How to treat a bee sting.

(Baonghean.vn) - A bee sting causes sharp pain, swelling, and can lead to poisoning or even death if not treated promptly. So, what should you do, and how should you provide first aid for a bee sting?

Man who caught bees dies 30 minutes after being stung.

A wound from a bee sting.

Our country has many types of bees, and the types that commonly cause poisoning are wasps, hornets, honeybees, and some unknown species in mountainous forest areas. Wasps, hornets, and some species of bees in mountainous forest areas are very venomous and dangerous.

Identifying and signs of poisoning from bee stings.

Honeybee:The third foot (the last foot) enlarges and carries a pollen sac (pollen basket); when burned, it leaves behind a stinger; the nest contains honey.

Honeybee(Horn-hanging bees) build large nests on high tree branches or cliffs, the nests hanging down like water sacs; the bees are large and very aggressive.

Our country currently has 5 native bee species (native bee, giant honeybee, red fly bee, black fly bee, and rock bee) and bees imported from abroad. In general, honeybees are docile (except for giant honeybees).

Symptoms after being bitten:

The bite site is painful and swollen. Bites in dangerous areas (head, face, neck) can cause difficulty breathing, eye damage, and allergic reactions: itching, generalized redness of the skin, difficulty breathing, and anaphylactic shock (rapid, weak pulse, low blood pressure).

Wasps (also known as hornets or devil wasps) build their nests on trees, roofs, pillars, etc. The nests have patterns resembling wood grain, are gourd-shaped, or are large blocks with only one opening for the wasps to enter and exit. They are aggressive.

Hornets (also known as ground hornets or earth hornets) build their nests underground, often in abandoned termite mounds or holes in the ground, making them easy for foresters to step on. These hornets are very large, about the size of a finger, and very aggressive. When they sting, they don't leave a stinger, and one hornet can sting multiple times.

Toxicity: Highly toxic, causing skin damage and leaving wounds and scars in the affected area; toxic to muscles, kidneys, and blood. Fatalities are common; even large livestock can die from multiple stings.

First aid for bee stings

Use tweezers to remove the bee stinger.

Quickly remove the victim from the area where the bees are. Lay the victim still, avoiding excessive movement to limit the spread of venom throughout the body. Gently remove the bee stinger with tweezers or by carefully scraping it out. Absolutely do not squeeze the stinger out with your fingers, as this may rupture the venom sac, causing it to spread and penetrate deeper into the body.

Wash the affected areas with soap and warm water or an antiseptic solution, then apply a cold compress or ice pack to the bitten area to reduce pain and swelling. Give the victim water to help flush out toxins.

After administering first aid, the victim should be immediately taken to the nearest medical facility for prompt emergency treatment, especially if there are signs of more serious illness.

Clean the wound thoroughly.

Bites to the face, neck, mouth, and throat can cause suffocation or blindness. Patients experience discomfort, such as: severe pain, significant swelling in the bitten area, itching, difficulty breathing, fatigue, decreased urination, and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin).

If the patient has difficulty breathing: Perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or artificial respiration using available means. Do not self-medicate (whether with traditional or modern medicine), and do not try to apply lime as it is time-consuming and ineffective, especially if there are multiple bites or stings on the face, neck, or mouth.

Some folk remedies for treating bee stings immediately.

These methods are applicable in cases where the bites are not numerous or too severe:

Recipe 1: Crush 30g of chives or 30g of fresh Prunella vulgaris or fresh Pinellia ternata leaves, or 50-100g of bottle gourd leaves, or 30-50g of fresh white bean leaves or fresh mint leaves and apply to the bee sting to reduce pain and swelling.

Lesson 2: Take one fresh flower (any kind) and rub it on the affected area to reduce swelling immediately.

Lesson 3: Take 15g of fresh hibiscus leaves, add a little salt, crush them into a paste, and apply it to the insect bite.

Lesson 4: Express some breast milk (from a breastfeeding mother) and apply it to the bite to help reduce pain and swelling.

Lesson 5: Crush chrysanthemum leaves and rub them on the insect bite 5-7 times a day.

Lesson 6: Rub a raw taro root, cut into slices, on the insect bite to relieve pain.

Lesson 7: Crush amaranth leaves and rub them on the affected area; you will feel the stinging pain subside very quickly.

Lesson 8: Cut a fresh branch or twig of a frangipani tree at a 45-degree angle, shake off the sap, and rub it repeatedly in one direction on the bee sting. The bee venom will come out, and the pain and swelling will subside.

Alternatively, you can apply calamine lotion (commonly used on burns to soothe pain) or sodium calamine paste to the wound, which neutralizes and absorbs the venom. Cover the wound with a bandage.

Preventing bee stings

You shouldn't tease or disturb a beehive.

Avoid contact with bees unless absolutely necessary.

Do not provoke or tease bees, do not harm them (they will release a substance that alerts the swarm), and do not disturb beehives unless it is necessary and safe to do so.

Do not leave houses, floors, or rooms unoccupied (bees are more likely to build nests there). Detect beehives early and destroy them if they are in crowded areas, places with high foot traffic, or within households. They should be destroyed as soon as they are built (while still small, usually in March-April).

Do not consider bees entering or nesting in your house as a good omen. When going into the forest, avoid wearing bright or colorful clothing. Do not use perfumes, shampoos, or cosmetics with sweet or fragrant scents.

Do not go barefoot or wear loose clothing. Wear a hat with a mesh veil, gloves, and thick, protective clothing if possible. When bees approach, do not run; stand or sit still and do not move (the bees will no longer see you).

If you are attacked by bees, you can use any available insect repellent with an unpleasant smell or smoke to drive them away (do not do this if there is a risk of forest fire).

How to remove a beehive: Use smoke (do not use if there is a fire hazard) or insecticidal spray (e.g., mosquito spray) to drive the bees away. Then, use a screen or fine mesh net to cover the hive and remove it (to prevent any bees from remaining inside). The person removing it should wear thick clothing or a raincoat (thick plastic), a hat, and gloves.

Ngoc Lan

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