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Spending time in your garden or hanging out with friends at a park is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon—until you feel a sharp poke and realize you've been stung by a bee. Bee stings are relatively common and don't have to ruin your day, as long as you act quickly. Here, we've gathered some of the best options so if you'll know what to do if you get stung.
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QuestionHow can I avoid getting stung by a bee?David Williams is a Professional Beekeeper and Bee Removal Specialist with over 28 years of beekeeping experience. He is the Owner of Bzz Bee Removal, a bee removal company based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Bzz Bee Removal locates, captures, and transports bees to local beekeepers to prevent colony collapse disorder.Make sure not to swat at bees. Simply avoid the bee, move out of the way, and walk away from it. If a bee is being aggressive, continue to walk away and put distance between you and the insect.
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QuestionHow long does it take for the effects of a honeybee sting to show?Jurdy Dugdale is a Registered Nurse in Florida. She received her Nursing License from the Florida Board of Nursing in 1989.This is a good question. Often one thinks the sting is not too bad, but then it begins to spread in an outward fashion. That is why it is good to mark the area with a pen. It can be many hours later and the sting has still not subsided.
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QuestionWhat should I do if the site stings from cream and vinegar?Jurdy Dugdale is a Registered Nurse in Florida. She received her Nursing License from the Florida Board of Nursing in 1989.I would recommend that you wash the area thoroughly with cold water and then allow it to dry.
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Tips
- Give bees and other insects plenty of space and stay away from flowers to avoid getting stung. If you see bee activity, move away from the area calmly. [12] X Trustworthy Source Cedars Sinai Hospital Website of one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
- Wear unscented lotions and cosmetics to avoid attracting bees that might mistake you for a flower. [13] X Trustworthy Source Cedars Sinai Hospital Website of one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- If you have an epinephrine autoinjector prescribed for severe allergic reactions, always keep it on your person when going outdoors. Bee sting reactions can quickly become life-threatening, so having the EpiPen readily available could truly save your life if needed. Don't take the risk of leaving it behind.
- In the days following a bee sting, keep watch over the area. Call your doctor promptly if you notice increasing redness, warmth, or pus, which could signal that infection is setting in.
- If stung on the hand or foot, take off any rings or shoes right away before swelling starts. This prevents circulation issues or discomfort from the sting site becoming constricted.
- After getting stung by a bee, immediately head inside and wash the area thoroughly with mild soap and water. This helps prevent a bacterial infection from developing in the wound.
- Wrap an ice pack or folded cold, wet cloth in a towel and apply to the sting site to reduce pain and swelling. Never put bare ice directly on skin as it could damage tissue.
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Warnings
- Watch for signs that redness or swelling is spreading, which could indicate an infection. While infected bee stings are rare, if it does get infected you'll need a round of antibiotics to clear it up. [14] X Trustworthy Source Cedars Sinai Hospital Website of one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/bug-bites.html
- ↑ https://www.samhealth.org/about-samaritan/news-search/2019/08/13/ease-the-pain-of-bee-stings
- ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/allergies-to-bites-and-stings
- ↑ https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-ca/home/news/editorial/2018/05/15/14/05/bee-stings
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/bites/treat-bee-sting
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/insect-stings
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/bites/treat-bee-sting
- ↑ https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/treat-bee-sting.html
- ↑ https://www.samhealth.org/about-samaritan/news-search/2019/08/13/ease-the-pain-of-bee-stings
- ↑ https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-ca/home/news/editorial/2018/05/15/14/05/bee-stings
- ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/bites-and-stings-first-aid
- ↑ https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/treat-bee-sting.html
- ↑ https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/treat-bee-sting.html
- ↑ https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/treat-bee-sting.html
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you’ve been stung by a bee, remove the stinger as soon as you can, either by grabbing it with your fingernails or scraping it out with a credit card. Wash the affected area with soap and cold water to clean it and ease the pain. If you notice that you are having difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, dizziness, hives, or nausea, call for emergency services, as you may be having an allergic reaction. Take an antihistamine to try to slow down the reaction, but be sure to tell the response team which medication you took when they arrive. To learn home remedies, such as using toothpaste or honey, keep reading the article!
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Reader Success Stories
- "The baking soda & ice helped, but during the middle of the night the itching was bad & I scratched it repeatedly. Hours later obvious redness & swelling occurred & spread. I resumed the baking soda & ice & added Cort-Aide. It helps - hoping no M.D. appointment." ..." more
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"The baking soda & ice helped, but during the middle of the night the itching was bad & I scratched it repeatedly. Hours later obvious redness & swelling occurred & spread. I resumed the baking soda & ice & added Cort-Aide. It helps - hoping no M.D. appointment."
..."
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"Apparently I was too close to a hive while sitting on a bench minding my own business, and I got stung on my elbow and ankle. Great to know that the itching, mild pain and discomfort that is still occurring 3 days later is normal. Thank you for this article!"
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"While cutting down a tree, my gardener got stung on the lip by a bee. He immediately came to me and I pulled the sting out and applied honey. About an hour later I asked how he was. He had no pain and only a slight swelling of the lip. So honey works!"
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"I have just had a bee sting while debudding my fushias, there was a bee inside. I could not see a sting, so I did what you said: I put my hand under cold water and used a hand wash. That took the pain and swelling away."
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"Just knowing what to do: removing sting, antihistamine, ice, etc. Knowing what to look for, when to call for medical help. The advice given was easily understood. Thank you."
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