Most of us enjoy being outdoors in the spring and summer, and spend as much time as possible outside. There are hazards of course out there that we must contend with, but that goes along with it. One of the most unpredictable and painful hazards in the great outdoors, are bees and wasps.

Bees and wasps may serve some vital role in the ecosystem, but I don't know what it is! They're simply irritating and hurtful pests as far as I'm concerned. They have caused me much pain through the years, though probably due to my negligence most of the time.

I don't think I've ever been stung without reason. Even if it was simply getting too close to a nest, it probably could have been avoided. I do know this ... the little devils can sure put the hurt on you!

Assuming you have no allergic reactions to bee stings, there are a few things you can do to ease the pain. By all means if you have a reaction that restricts your breathing, don't hesitate to go straight to the emergency room.

First thing to do is remove the stinger if it's still attached to your skin. Tweezers work well for this, or you can do it with your fingernail if you are outside and away from the medicine cabinet.

If you just have normal swelling, itching, and tenderness, an ice cube will go a long way in relieving the discomfort. Alcohol, after an initial jolt of pain will also help numb the sting. My Grandmother would put tobacco in the form of snuff juice on bites and stings. That was forty years ago, but I do remember that it worked.

The last thing I will suggest works like magic, I learned this from an old plumber. I am a plumber, we are always getting bit by spiders and such, but this works on bee stings as well.

The secret is regular household ammonia. I don't know how it works, only that it does. It only smells briefly, for it evaporates quickly. Just dab a little on the sting, and almost instantly the pain subsides.

While all of these remedies work to some degree, there are over the counter things you can try as well. A bee sting will be gone before you know it, so don't panic, it is one of the hazards of enjoying the outdoors.

Learn more about this author, Chris Con.
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