The venom enters your skin in seconds, so act as soon as you feel the sting. When removing the stinger, be careful not to squeeze the venom sac at the end of the stinger. Doing so may increase the amount of venom that goes into your skin.
If you don’t have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer to clean the area.
The back of a pocket knife. If you are using a knife to remove the stinger from someone else, only do so if the person is able to be still enough that you are confident you won’t cut them. Do not use this method on a child whose movements may be unpredictable. The edge of a credit card (or driver’s license, etc. ). This method is safe to use on a child because there is no risk that you could injure him or her with the card.
Make sure the meat tenderizer doesn’t contain spices, as they might burn your sting.
The stinger may be barbed, so it may be uncomfortable as you remove it. Do not jerk the stinger out. This increases the risk that it will break, leaving a smaller, more difficult to remove fragment in your skin.
If you have been stung by a wasp or hornet, they can sting repeatedly. Calmly but quickly leave the area where you were stung to avoid getting stung again.
Hold the sting under running water for several seconds to thoroughly flush the area of dirt and debris. Gently rub the area with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly. Pat the area dry.
If you have circulation problems, then use the ice for less time to reduce the risk of frostbite. If you do not have an ice pack handy, a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel will work just as well. Do not put the ice directly on your skin because it can cause frostbite. Wrap it in a towel or cloth.
Don’t take more of the antihistamine than recommended on the label.
Paracetamol Ibuprofen Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Hydrocortisone cream (1%) - apply a thin layer to the affected area 4 times daily, as needed Calamine lotion An oral antihistamine with diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
Itchy skin Red rash Swelling of the eyes, lips, hands, feet The feeling that your throat is closing or swelling of the mouth, throat, or tongue Difficulty swallowing Difficulty breathing Abdominal discomfort Nausea or vomiting Unconsciousness
