take the sting out of summer insects

Patricia Carroll, RN,BC, CEN, RRT, MS

Stinging insects can transform an afternoon of summer fun to tears and fears as children and adults alike try to avoid the dreaded stings. For some people stings hurt for a little while and go away; but for others, the sting of an insect can cause an allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. 

There are four types of stinging insects: bees, yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets.  Bees are the only insects that leave their stinger behind -- they can only sting once. Other insects can sting more than once if they are trapped in clothing, for example.

Prevention is the First Step

Preventing insect stings is the best approach.  Stinging insects are drawn to flowers where they collect pollen. So, step one is not to confuse the insect into thinking you (or your children) are flowers! That means:

• Dress in solid, neutral colors such as white or khaki.
• Stay away from floral patterns and floral colors like yellow, hot pink, orange, and green.
• Don't use scented products that may draw the insects near as does the scent of a flower -- avoid perfume, and scented soaps, sun screen, hair care products, and body powders.
• Don't wear sandals in which a stinging insect could be trapped; wear closed-toe shoes such as sneakers instead.

Next, use common sense when outdoors. Never try to burn or flood an insect nest with water because you probably won't kill the insects; instead, they will feel threatened, become aggressive and more likely to sting. Be particularly careful when mowing the grass -- you don't want to accidentally step on a nest, which will stir up the insects and provoke stinging.  

If you're having a cookout or picnic, keep food covered until it's time to eat. Fresh fruit and soft drinks are particularly likely to attract insects.  Uncovered garbage after the meal is particularly attractive to yellow jackets.

If stinging insects are nearby, stand still or move very slowly away from them. Don't swing your arms or move quickly because those motions can provoke an attack. Never crush an insect because that could release a special "alarm scent" that will mobilize nearby insects --  particularly yellow jackets -- to attack.  

If You're Stung...

If you are stung, remain calm. If you're with someone else who is stung, help maintain a calm atmosphere while you check out the situation. Don't crush insects, and slowly leave the area without swinging your arms.  Resist the urge to try to swat the insects away. 

Look at the site of the sting. If there is a stinger visible, the sting came from a bee. These stingers can pump venom into the skin for a few minutes, so you want to get rid of that stinger as soon as possible. Try to flick the stinger away with your fingernail, or scrape it away with something stiff such as a credit card or ID badge.  Pull it out if the other methods don't work.

There are two types of reactions to a sting -- local, meaning limited to the skin, and systemic, meaning a response that affects the whole body. 

If a person has any of these signs or symptoms after a sting, call emergency services for a trip to the hospital -- it could mean a serious allergic reaction. It's far better to be safe than sorry. 

• Swelling of the face, particularly the lips, tongue or eyelids
• Hives all over the body, particularly on the palms of the hands and the trunk
• Trouble breathing, chest tightness, coughing, or wheezing
• Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or passing out
• Vomiting or diarrhea

Otherwise, treat the site of the sting with whatever is most handy. It is true that a meat tenderizer paste helps draw out the venom -- add just enough water to the powder to make a paste (typically a few drops of water to a teaspoon of powder). Apply the paste to the area of the sting. Be sure to look for a tenderizer that contains papain -- that enzyme will help break down the venom.

Other do-it-yourself remedies that help relieve the redness, swelling, and itching of a sting include:

• Wash the area with soap and water (after removing the stinger, if necessary)
• Apply cold compresses, or ice from a cooler if that's all that's nearby (try to wrap the ice in a cloth so you're not putting it directly on the skin, which could cause frostbite)
• Take a pain reliever of your choice if needed.
• Use antiinflammatory creams or local anesthetics for additional relief, as needed

If you or a loved one has had a serious allergic reaction to an insect sting in the past, be sure to ask your health care provider for an emergency kit. One type, called an Epipen, is an automatic device that, when activated, will inject a dose of epinephrine, the first drug typically used to treat a full-blown allergic reaction.  The other type is a kit that contains chewable antihistamine tablets along with injectable epinephrine.  Talk with your healthcare provider about which would be best for your situation.

And, here's another tip -- if you do need rescue medication, make sure you ask for a prescription that will allow you to buy more than one. If the allergic person plays golf, an extra kit should be in the golf bag -- it won't do any good in the glove compartment in the parking lot. If it's a child or adolescent, an extra kit should go out to the athletic fields during games with a coach or trainer. 

Insect stings don't have to be a part of your summer -- using common sense and dressing smartly can keep these pesky intruders at bay.  

Written: July 2002

Reviewed: May 2003, May 2004