When it comes to bee stings, there is always the fear that you will have a severe allergic reaction. Though 3 percent of adults and 1 percent of children suffer from anaphylaxis, it is still a good idea for you to know what to do when you or a loved one gets stung.

1. Don’t panic

It might hurt, but it is going to be okay.

2. Remove the Stinger

Grab a credit card and scrape the stinger out of your skin. Do not use tweezers. Pinching the stinger will make cause more venom to be inserted into your body.

3. Look for Signs of Anaphylaxis

First off, if the person has ever had a history of anaphylaxis, don’t wait for the signs to show up, make certain you call 911 immediately. If they have epinephrine, inject it. If you have never been stung, these are some of the symptoms to look for; difficulty breathing, trouble speaking, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, swollen tongue, tightness in the throat, even loss of consciousness. Remember, everyone is different; you might experience only a few of the symptoms. If at any time, you or the person that was stung experiences difficulty breathing, call 911 immediately.

4. Reduce Swelling

If you do not have any symptoms of a severe reaction, you can take steps to reduce the swelling. First off, you should clean the area with soap and water. Grab a bag and fill it with ice from your freezer. Wrap the bag in a dish towel and keep it pressed against the region where you were stung. In case of swelling, you might want to remove any tight fitting rings or jewelry.

5. Reduce the Pain

You can take over the counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce the pain.

6. Reduce Itchiness

If the area around the sting itches, you can mix up a water and baking soda paste and apply it. You can also use calamine lotion.

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