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Bees & Stinging Insects Causing You Pain?

Admin • Sep 01, 2014
Vector Art Of Bees With Bubble Message — Louisiana — DA Exterminating
Is summer time a real pain to you because of bees? If you’re one of the many people who seem to attract bees and their stings, summer is probably not your favorite season. Yellowjackets compete for our barbecued burgers and soft drinks while bees in the clover can collide with big and little bare feet.

An occasional bee sting is pretty much inevitable but there are some things you can do to prevent the sting from becoming a big problem. Consider these:

First of all, if symptoms of collapse or difficulty in breathing develop, emergency professional treatment must be sought urgently. If you have a bite that ulcerates or just won’t heal, always seek professional advice.

If the person does not have severe allergy symptoms to bees: 1. Remove the bee stinger

  • Scrape the area with a fingernail or use tweezers to remove it.
  • Don’t pinch the bee stinger — that can inject more venom.

2. Control Swelling

  • Ice the area.
  • If you were stung on your arm or leg, elevate it.
  • Remove any tight-fitting jewelry from the area of the sting. As it swells, rings or bracelets might be difficult to remove.

3. Treat Symptoms

  • For the bee sting pain, take an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give aspirin to anyone under age 18.
  • For itchiness, take an antihistamine. You can also apply a mixture of baking soda and water or calamine lotion.
  • Meat tenderizer mixed with water to form a paste can be applied to neutralize the venom.

4. Follow-Up

  • It might take 2-5 days for the area to heal. Keep it clean to prevent infection.

Here’s what else to do to prevent bee stings Keep your cool. If a wasp, yellow jacket, bee or any stinging insect flies near you, stay calm. Slowly move away from the area and do not flail your arms or try to swat the bee. Getting agitated may incite the insect to sting.

Unsweeten your sweat. Some people suggest that eating onions and garlic can drive bees away. The downside? You’re likely to repel humans, too.

Don’t wear bright, flowery clothes or rough fabrics. These seem to attract insects for some reason. Stick to smooth fabric and light-colored outfits in tones of white, tan, green, or khaki when you plan to spend time outdoors.

Go fragrance-free. Perfume, cologne, and scented aftershave, hair spray, and soap will attract bees. You may feel a bit bland without your favorite fragrance, but it may be well worth it to prevent painful stings.

Leave bright, shiny jewelry at home. Bright jewelry and other shiny metal objects attract insects.

Keep your shoes on. Walking barefoot through the grass may feel great, but it’s not such a wise idea. Bees are attracted to the clover that covers many lawns, and yellow jackets build their homes in the ground, so going shoeless can mean stepping into trouble.

Keep food covered when outside. Picnics are a summer family favorite, but open food attracts bees. Keep covers on food as much as possible and keep the lids on garbage cans as well.

Watch what you drink from. If you’re downing a cold drink outdoors, use caution. Insects can fly into drinking vessels, so guzzling a cola could lead to a sting on the tongue or throat.

Be aware of your surroundings. When gardening or doing yard work or other outdoor chores, be on the lookout for hives. Nests can be found in the eaves and attic of your home and in trees, vines, shrubs, wood piles, and other protected places. Disturbing a nest, even by accident, can irritate the insects. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology suggests using extreme care when operating power lawn mowers, hedge clippers, and tractors.

But if you are the outdoors type, then completely avoiding bees isn’t practical. There are measures you can take to be LESS attractive to bees.

  • Lavender, Pennyroyal, Pyrethrum, Southernwood, Tansy and Wormwood are all good for repelling insects. Make an infusion and apply to the skin (when cool) using a spritzer, or spray in a room.
  • Witch hazel helps relieve heat and inflammation. Make an infusion or use distilled witch hazel and apply externally.
  • Aloe Vera gel can have a soothing effect on red, inflamed skin.

For more information about bee stings and their treatment, visit WebMd.
If you’re plagued by stinging insects, call DA Exterminating today!
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