Art-87

STINGING LIKE A BEE (Beestings and Magnets)

By Rosemary Skinner SRN

Bee and wasp stings seem to be the penalty inflicted upon children for enjoying their summer holidays. However writing from recent experience adults can suffer too.

Prevention consists of not antagonizing insects by casually swatting them or walking with bare feet in their natural habitat. Clover blossom on a lawn is a popular hiding place for wild bees. Avoid wearing scent or aftershave. You may attract the unexpected! Remember bright colours can also attract unwanted attention.

Action: A bee will leave behind a stinger attached to a venom sac, which continues to pump venom into the victim after the bee has left. Remove the sting using a blunt knife, tweezers or credit card. Do not attempt to press out the sting, as this will only help the poison to spread under the skin. Move a short distance from the area where you were stung. Would you believe that at the base of a honey bees sting, an alarm pheromone is released which will attract other bees. If the sting is in the mouth or throat medical treatment should be sought immediately

Treatment. Clean the bite area. Apply a cold pack, or ice wrapped in a towel. After ten minutes apply a “D-MAX NEODYMIUM MAGNETS - Circular” to the site of the sting. Take acetaminophen tablets (Paracetamol/ Tylinol), as directed on the container, followed by an antihistamine tablet Cetirzine dihydrochloride (Zirtek) again as directed. Other remedies exist. I have found the above to be most effective.