Tell me what to do about bee and wasp stings

[ElphabaTheGreen]

It hasn't happened yet, but since our garden seems to be full of 'em this year, I thought I'd get prepared. I can't keep 23 month old DS out of the garden in this weather (nor do I want to) but I'd like to be prepared for what may be the inevitable.

Thanks in advance!

Bees = bicarbonate

Wasps = winegar (vinegar, but that's how you remember it)

If a sting is left in remove it by scraping a fingernail along the surface of the skin towards the sticking out end, never use tweezers as gripping the sting squeezes out any toxin left in it.

Traditional advice is to neutralise the venom with "Bicarb for bees and vinegar for vasps ". Modern advice would be a dab of antihistamine or hydrocortisone cream

rose I say vinegar for vasps! But agree that booth work.
*elphaba" teach him not to scream or flap at insects flying near him as this will increase his changes of being stung. Bees are generally fairly benign if left alone. Wasps are just mean stripey bastards. Cover any drinking cups he may have outside as juice will attract wasps. Always seek medical help of he is stung in the mouth.

Bees will often leave the sting attached to a tiny poison sac in the wound. Try and scrape it away with a fingernail, rather than risk squeezing it with tweezers as this pushes more poison out.

With bee stings, the sting is usually left in and its needs to be removed as quick as possible. You use something flat and blunt and slide it along the skin under the sting. When ds got stung in his ear last summer I had long nails so just pinched it off.

Bee stings are also acidic so putting soap on it (once you've remover the stinger) helps with the pain.

Wasp stings are alkali so putting something acidic like lemon juice or vinegar on helps with the pain.

You're all fab - thanks!