-
Gently scrape out the stinger as soon as possible. Use a credit card or a fingernail. (This applies to bees only; yellow jackets, wasps and hornets don't lose their stingers.)
-
Don't pull the stinger out with your fingers or tweezers. Don't squeeze the stinger. It contains venom. You could re-sting yourself.
-
Clean the sting area with soapy water.
-
Put a cold compress on the sting. Put ice in a cloth, plastic bag or plastic wrap. Don't put ice directly on the skin. Hold the cold compress on the site for 15-20 minutes.
-
Keep the sting area lower than the level of the heart.
-
Apply a paste made of meat tenderizer (like Ac'cent) to the sting area. It seems to break down the protein in the venom.
-
Take aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium for the pain.
[Note: Do not give aspirin or any medicine that has salicylates to anyone 19 years of age or younger unless a doctor tells you to.]
-
Take an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as Benadryl, for the itching and swelling unless you have to avoid this medicine for medical reasons. Look on the label for how much to take.
