Page 160 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

158 FIRST AID

Insect bites and stings

Wasp, hornet, or bee stings are painful, and the site of a sting
WARNING
may be swollen, red, sore, and itchy for a day or two. Flea and
mosquito bites develop into itchy red bumps, while a tick (a tiny Dial 911 or call EMS if:
bloodsucking creature) leaves a swollen, red, beadlike lump on ● There are signs of anaphylactic
shock (see opposite page)
your skin. Ticks can spread disease so they must be removed ● You suspect the sting is to the
quickly and carefully. Although most bites and stings are little inside of the mouth or throat
more than a nuisance, a few people suffer a severe allergic
reaction (anaphylactic shock) that needs emergency treatment.

What you can do yourself
PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
There are effective techniques for removing
stingers and ticks, and remedies that will reduce Treating an insect sting
the general discomfort of bites and stings. Follow these steps as soon as possible after the sting
has occurred. They will help to reduce immediate
● Watch for symptoms of anaphylactic shock (see
pain and swelling and minimize aftereffects such
opposite page). Call 911 if any develop. as redness, soreness, and itching.
● If you suspect a sting to the mouth or throat, If you are stung on your wrist, hand, or
call 911. Sucking ice cubes or sipping cold water fingers, remove rings, bracelets, and watches
will help to reduce swelling. 1 in case swelling develops. If the sting is on a
limb, keep it raised to reduce swelling. If you
● To treat a sting, remove the stinger, then wash cannot see the stinger, go to step 3.
and cool the area (see PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE, right).
● If you find a tick, remove it with tweezers. Scrape out a stinger
Grasp the head and lever it out, being careful not that is visible using
to leave any of the tick behind. 2 a firm object, such
as a credit card or
● Do not scratch a bite or sting because this will your fingernail,
increase the risk of infection. applying a constant
pressure. Don’t use
● Apply an insect bite relief cream or ointment (see tweezers; they may
p.185) to soothe sore, swollen, and/or itchy bites. inject more venom
into the skin.
● Antihistamine pills (see p.178) may help
to minimize itching and swelling. You can take
medication yourself, but you should not administer
it if you are treating someone else. Wash the area with
soap and water.
3 Make an ice pack
from a bag of frozen
Seek medical advice peas or crushed ice,
wrapped in a towel,
Arrange to see a doctor after 24 hours if:
or a cloth soaked in
● Redness and swelling increase cold water and
● The bite is oozing or there are red streaks wrung out. Apply it
under the skin around the bite over the site for 10
minutes to reduce
pain and swelling.