Bee Sting First Aid

First Aid for a Bee Sting is about getting away from the area, removing the stinger, washing the area, treating pain, and watching for allergic reactions. Most bee stings will only require home first aid, but if someone has a sever allergic reaction then they may require advanced medical care. A good precaution when working in areas with bees is to wear protective clothing. A bee sting can happen anywhere and these steps can help you treat it.

The first step in treating a Bee Sting is to get out of the immediate area of the sting. Bees most often sting when they feel threatened. If you leave the area in which you were stung you may avoid receiving additional stings from other bees. Then we want to remove the stinger. Bees are the only insect that leaves its stinger, wasps and other stinging insects will not leave the stinger. You want to remove it in a way that will not pinch the venom sack. The recommendation is to use a straight dull object like a credit or ID card. Scrape or flick the card along the skin until the stinger is removed. If this is not effective you may use tweezers grasping the sting close to the skin, not at the end of the venom sack. Then wash the area of the sting with soap and water.

The next steps in Bee Sting first aid are about treating the pain, itch, and swelling. Use ice rapped in a dry towel on the area for up to 20 minutes to reduce swelling. Antihistamines can also be giving to deal with itching and help with swelling. Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen can help with pain. Finally it is important to monitor the person for about 30 minutes to watch for signs of sever allergic reaction. Someone with a documented sever allergy to bee stings may know about their condition and carry an epinephrine pen. Some may not know about their allergy and it can happen as a surprise. Contact 911 and seek emergency care if the situation does not improve, give CPR if needed.

Learn more about Bee Sting First Aid in an American Heart Association (AHA) Heartsaver CPR and First Aid course at Life Saving CPR Training in Sacramento California. Visit the website: https://cprskillssacramento.com/ to find the course schedule and to sign up online or call (916) 672-2008 with questions. First Aid and #CPRSavesLives because #LifeIsWhy!