Protect yourself against bees and other stinging insects

Summer is the season for many wonderful things. Gardening, playing outside, backyard BBQ’s and just enjoying long Northwest summer days. It is also the season for bees, wasps, and other biting and stinging insects.

Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile Virus and are most active at dusk, but some will bite during the day, especially in shady areas. It’s easy to reduce the risk of being bitten by a mosquito by eliminating mosquito habitat around your home and yard. It’s also good to wear pants and long sleeve shirts at dusk and use mosquito repellant.

While most bees and hornets are focused on gathering food, if they feel threatened, they will defend themselves or their nests by stinging. Although most bees usually sting only once, wasps and hornets can sting multiple times.

Reactions to insect stings can range in severity from minor to potentially fatal. In most cases, bee and other stings are only mildly annoying, causing brief, sharp pain with a little swelling and redness. But, if you are allergic to bees or get stung multiple times, a more severe reaction may require immediate medical attention. An allergic reaction to a bee or wasp sting triggers the body’s release of histamine and other chemicals that can cause severe responses, such as:

• Itching and hives throughout the body
• Swelling of throat and tongue
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness and nausea
• Stomach cramps and diarrhea
• Rapid fall in blood pressure, resulting in shock, and in some cases, loss of consciousness

Anyone with any of the above symptoms should seek medical attention immediately!

If you are stung by a honeybee, remove the stinger quickly by wiping gauze over the area or by scraping a fingernail across the stinger. Never squeeze the stinger or use tweezers since this can cause more venom to release.

After any sting, wash the sting site with soap and water. If you see redness, warmth or swelling around the sting, apply a cold compress and take over-the-counter antihistamines (such as Benadryl).

The following tips can help you reduce the risk of getting stung.

• Be careful when drinking sweet beverages outside. Inspect cans and straws before drinking from them.
• Keep food and drink covered or under screens when eating outdoors.
• Tightly cover food containers and trash cans.
• Wear closed-toe shoes when walking outside.
• Avoid wearing bright colors or floral prints.
• Avoid wearing fragrant perfumes, cologne, lotions, or hair products.
• Don’t wear loose clothing that can trap stinging insects between the cloth and your skin.
• Be careful when mowing the lawn or trimming around your home. These activities might disturb a hornet or yellowjacket nest.
• If you do see bees or wasps flying around, stay calm and slowly walk away. Swatting at a bee or wasp may cause it to sting.

If you think you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to a bee, wasp or hornet sting, you should talk to your doctor about prevention and treatment options.

For more information bees, stinging insects and other summer pests visit: https://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Pests/BeesandWasps https://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Pests/BitingFlies

More information

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