Have you had your first picnic of the season yet? For those of you who have, were there any unwelcome guests with wings and stingers attached? Unfortunately, stinging insects are a factor in many of our outdoor endeavors this time of year. Here are some tips for you to help avoid and treat those little party-crashers, courtesy of the American Institute for Preventive Medicine:
- Keep food and drink containers tightly covered.
- Avoid sweet-smelling perfume or cologne. Wear insect repellent instead.
- Avoid looking like a flower. Choose white or neutral colors that won’t attract attention — the bugs’, that is.
- Wear snug clothing that covers your arms and legs, and don’t go barefoot.
If you end up getting stung anyway, consider the following to treat the affected site:
- Gently scrape out the stinger as soon as possible (bees only; the other stinging insects do not leave their stingers behind). The edge of a credit card works well.
- Don’t pull or squeeze the stinger. It contains venom, which can be re-injected into the already unhappy victim’s foot, finger, face, etc.
- Clean the area with soap and water.
- Put an ice pack wrapped in a towel on the area immediately, and leave in place for 15-20 minutes.
- Apply ammonia diluted with water to the sting area.
- If the pain is severe, aspirin or acetaminophen can be taken, as well as an antihistamine for the swelling and itching.
- If you are stung in the mouth or on the tongue, get medical attention immediately, as the swelling may close off your airway.
If you are stung and have a severe reaction (generalized swelling, wheezing, difficulty breathing) this is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately. If you have had a reaction like this in the past, you should carry an emergency sting kit with you whenever you are outdoors. It contains epinephrine, a drug that stops the body’s excessive reaction, in an easy-to-use injector. This little item could save your life if you have a run-in with a winged stinger.
Pam Maxson is a Health Educator at Noyes Hospital in Dansville. If you have questions or suggestions for future articles, you may reach her pmaxson@noyes-hospital.org or 585-335-4327.
Have you had your first picnic of the season yet? For those of you who have, were there any unwelcome guests with wings and stingers attached? Unfortunately, stinging insects are a factor in many of our outdoor endeavors this time of year. Here are some tips for you to help avoid and treat those little party-crashers, courtesy of the American Institute for Preventive Medicine:
- Keep food and drink containers tightly covered.
- Avoid sweet-smelling perfume or cologne. Wear insect repellent instead.
- Avoid looking like a flower. Choose white or neutral colors that won’t attract attention — the bugs’, that is.
- Wear snug clothing that covers your arms and legs, and don’t go barefoot.
If you end up getting stung anyway, consider the following to treat the affected site:
- Gently scrape out the stinger as soon as possible (bees only; the other stinging insects do not leave their stingers behind). The edge of a credit card works well.
- Don’t pull or squeeze the stinger. It contains venom, which can be re-injected into the already unhappy victim’s foot, finger, face, etc.
- Clean the area with soap and water.
- Put an ice pack wrapped in a towel on the area immediately, and leave in place for 15-20 minutes.
- Apply ammonia diluted with water to the sting area.
- If the pain is severe, aspirin or acetaminophen can be taken, as well as an antihistamine for the swelling and itching.
- If you are stung in the mouth or on the tongue, get medical attention immediately, as the swelling may close off your airway.
If you are stung and have a severe reaction (generalized swelling, wheezing, difficulty breathing) this is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately. If you have had a reaction like this in the past, you should carry an emergency sting kit with you whenever you are outdoors. It contains epinephrine, a drug that stops the body’s excessive reaction, in an easy-to-use injector. This little item could save your life if you have a run-in with a winged stinger.
Pam Maxson is a Health Educator at Noyes Hospital in Dansville. If you have questions or suggestions for future articles, you may reach her pmaxson@noyes-hospital.org or 585-335-4327.
