You may be asked how do you treat insect bites and stings. In such a case, it is important to know about the major insects bite or sting first aid as this could mean the difference between life and death to some people. The main concern about insect bites are if the bitten person is allergic to the toxins in the bite or sting.

There are many people who are allergic to bee stings and this means they are vulnerable to anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is always the biggest concern with any type of bug bite. This is why you should have a basic idea of how do you treat insect bites and stings. If the victim exhibits any signs of allergic reaction or anaphylaxis shortly after an insect bite you should call for an ambulance immediately. The major symptoms of an anaphylactic attack are hives and redness of the skin. The symptoms are progressive and the bitten person may complain of difficulty in breathing and weakness. The person might make a wheezing sound which signals that the airways are becoming narrow and that you should get medical help immediately.

The first thing you have to know in how do you treat insect bites and stings is to get away the victim away from the area. Bees release a scent when in danger to attract other bees. You should use personal protective equipment if you have it. You will then have to remove stingers. You can pull stingers out with your fingers. If the victim is allergic to bees, check to see if the victim is carrying an epinephrine auto-injector. If so, help the victim use the device as directed. If the victim is supposed to carry one of these devices and does not have it, you should call for help immediately. In the mean time you will have to watch the person for any signs of anaphylaxis.

The victim should be taken to the emergency department if he or she was stung more than 10 times, or if there are bee stings inside the nose, mouth, or throat. Swelling from these stings can cause shortness of breath, even in non-allergic victims.Most victims develop local reactions to bee stings. Redness, swelling, and pain are common at the site of the bee sting. The swelling may last for more than a day and an ice pack can be used to reduce swelling at the site.If there is itching at the bee sting site antihistamines or calamine lotion helps. One can use ibuprofen or acetaminophen for minor pain relief. For tenderness at the site a bee-sting swab can be used to dull the pain. This is a short guide to how do you treat insect bites and stings.

Richard Dorads – InsectPest.net