Bee Careful

Just like the Sopranos on television Hymenopteras will go to any lengths to defend their family and their turf.

Wasps bees ants and other hymenopterans generally go about their business without bothering anyone leaving the dirty business to those in the colony whose job it is to protect the nest from intruders. They'll also defend themselves if disturbed while out foraging.

Once targeted a child out playing in his or her backyard has little protection from the insect's venomous stinger -- designed by nature to inflict sharp pain. For most kids the worst is over in a few minutes as the body responds immediately to the sting by releasing fluid from the blood to flush out the poison. There will be redness and swelling for a few hours. Others will suffer a delayed reaction including low-grade fever mild nausea tiredness and aches perhaps several days or a week after the actual sting. In rare cases people who suffer a delayed reaction may be at risk for anaphylaxis which can result in irregular heartbeat shock and death. As with many other things in life prevention is the best cure.

How to avoid getting stung

Bees are attracted by strong smells and bright colours. So if you look and smell like a flower a bee might think you are a flower. They are most active on bright sunny days. Because of their running and playing children are particularly prone to bee stings. Rapid movement startles the bee and encourages stinging.

A bee can sting you just about anywhere but the face is the most likely place for a bee or wasp to sting. One of the most dangerous places to be stung is inside the mouth. The resulting swelling can block off breathing with fatal results. This usually happens as a result of having a drink outside and not noticing a bee getting into it. This can easily happen if drinking out of a can. Always use a straw.

More tips to keeps bees away

Wear light colored smooth-finished clothing. Light colored clothing attracts fewer bees than dark clothing.
Avoid perfumed soaps shampoos and deodorants. Don't wear cologne or perfume. Avoid bananas and banana-scented toiletries.
Wear clean clothing and bathe daily. Sweat angers bees.
Cover the body as much as possible with clothing.
Avoid flowering plants.
Keep areas clean. Social wasps thrive in places where humans discard food so clean up picnic tables grills and other outdoor eating areas.

If a bee does land...

Hold still. Tell kids to pretend they're statues. Swinging or swatting at an insect may encourage it to sting.

remain still or lie face down on the ground.
Try blowing gently on the bee. This can encourage it to move on while not startling it.
If several stinging insects attack you at the same time run to get away from them. Bees release a chemical when they sting. This alerts other bees to the intruder. More bees often follow. Go indoors or jump into water. Outdoors a shaded area is better than an open area to get away from the insects.
If a bee comes inside your vehicle stop the car slowly and open all the windows.

What to do if you are stung

Have someone stay with the victim to be sure that they do not have an allergic reaction.
Wash the site with soap and water.
The stinger can be removed using a 4 x 4 inch gauze wiped over the area or by scraping a fingernail over the area. Never squeeze the stinger or use tweezers. It will cause more venom to go into the skin and injure the muscle.
Apply ice to reduce the swelling.
Do not scratch the sting. This will cause the site to swell and itch more and increase the chance of infection.

Allergic reactions to be stings

Allergic reactions to bee stings can be deadly. People with known allergies to insect stings should always carry an insect sting allergy kit and wear a medical ID bracelet or necklace stating their allergy. See a physician about getting either of these. There are several signs of an allergic reaction to bee stings. Look for swelling that moves to other parts of the body especially the face or neck. Check for difficulty in breathing wheezing dizziness or a drop in blood pressure. Get the person immediate medical care if any of these signs are present. It is normal for the area that has been stung to hurt have a hard swollen lump get red and itch. There are kits available to reduce the pain of an insect sting. They are a valuable addition to a first aid kit.

Contact your doctor immediately or call 911 if your child starts to have a severe reaction to a bee or wasp sting.

Just when you thought it was safe...

While bees are more active in the spring and summer watch out for wasps in the fall. Yellow jacket hives grow bigger and bigger during the summer and are at their biggest in the fall. That means there are more of them. And they get more ornery and likely to sting as the days grow shorter the weather cools and their food supplies start to run low. Wasp stings are quite similar to bee stings. The main difference is that there is no stinger left in the sting site and the reaction tends to be worse.

HealthyCanada.com

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Bee Careful

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