Insect stings: first aid

In short: Stings from bees, wasps, bumblebees or hornets are painful but usually harmless. They become dangerous with an allergic reaction or a sting in the mouth or throat; then call 112 (the emergency number in Germany and the EU) at once.

In more detail: Redness, swelling, itching and pain at the sting site are normal and fade after a few days. Warning signs are symptoms affecting the whole body or a very large, rapidly growing swelling.

In detail

• Removing the sting: With bee stings the stinger often stays in the skin; scrape or pull it out quickly with a fingernail or a card, as speed matters more than the method.
• Cooling: Cool the area with a damp cloth or ice packs wrapped in a cloth; never put ice directly on the skin.
• Do not scratch: Scratching can damage the skin and encourage infection; pharmacies sell cooling and anti-itch gels.
• Sting in the mouth or throat: Swelling can narrow the airway; dial 112 immediately and until help arrives let the person suck ice and cool the neck from the outside (notruf-richtig-absetzen).
• Recognising allergy: A rash or hives all over the body, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea or circulation problems after a sting are an emergency (anaphylaxie-und-allergischer-schock-erste-hilfe).
• Emergency kit: People with a known insect venom allergy should always carry the emergency kit prescribed by their doctor and have practised using it.
• See a doctor: If the area becomes redder, hot or pus-filled after a few days, or a fever develops, an infection may be the cause.
• Prevention: Outdoors, do not drink from open bottles and cans, cover sweet food, wear shoes on grass and do not swat wildly at wasps.
• Other creatures: Ticks and mosquitoes need different treatment; get medical advice if in doubt, and a first-aid course helps you act correctly (zeckenbiss-richtig-handeln).