Bee stings are very common starting from the Spring season all the way into the Fall season. If you or your child gets stung by a bee, here are some things you can do to alleviate the pain.

EXTERNAL ANESTHETICS:
You can buy external anesthetic disposable swabs made specifically for bee stings. These swabs are bought over the counter, and contain benzocaine for fast temporary relief. You can use the swabs on bee stings, insect bites, and jellyfish. These swabs are relatively inexpensive, so you should always keep some on hand.

REMOVE THE STINGER:
The first thing you need to do is to remove the bee's stinger from your skin. Be very careful not to squeeze it, because there is a venom sac attached to it. If the venom sac is squeezed it will release more venom into the skin, thus causing more pain and swelling. The best way to remove the stinger is to scratch it out. You can use a credit card, finger nail or finger nail file to aid you in getting the stinger out. Gently scrape on the underside of the stinger, and it should flip out of your skin.

WASH THE STING SITE:
After the stinger is out, wash the area well with soap and water or an antiseptic. Bees often carry bacteria in their venom. Children also tend to grab the area they are hurting in, and after a day at play, children usually have picked up some bacteria on their hands which gets transfers to the sting when they touch it.

Now it is time to relieve the pain. If you have benzocaine swabs use them now, if not, here are several different ways to treat a bee sting.

ICE PACK:
An ice pack can help to keep the swelling down and stop the venom from spreading.

ASPIRIN:
Get the bee sting area damp using a wet washcloth, and then rub an aspirin on the site of the sting. The aspirin can also help with the swelling.

AMMONIA:
Household ammonia works on some bee stings. Use a cotton ball or cotton swab, saturate it with ammonia, and dab it on the site of the bee sting. If this method is going to work, the victim will have relief almost immediately.

TEABAG:
Get a teabag wet with cool water and place the teabag on the sting site to draw out the venom.

ANTIHISTAMINE:
Take an antihistamine. An over the counter antihistamine can help reduce swelling, reduce throbbing and redness from the sting site and can also make the child slightly sedated.

ALLERGIC REACTIONS:
If the victim is known to be allergic to bee stings, call 911 immediately. If it is the victim's first time being stung by a bee, keep a very close eye on them, if they act peculiar in any way, you may want take them to a doctors office or emergency room.

Learn more about this author, Justice Liberty.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about First aid for bee stings?
We want to hear your view. Write now!