Close-up on wasps nest.

The Shocking Truth About Wasp Stings: This Is What You NEED To Know To Stay Safe!

Discover how to treat wasp stings and the best ways to prevent these painful encounters while enjoying your summer activities. 🌞 #News #StaySafe #SummerTips

What to Do When a Wasp Stings You

MAPLE GROVE, MN – Spending time outdoors should be a joy, not a sting-filled nightmare! With summer in full swing, it’s prime time for picnics, hiking, and backyard barbecues. But these fun activities often come with an unwelcome guest: wasps.

Their stings can turn a perfect day into a painful memory. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a backyard enthusiast, knowing how to handle wasp stings and prevent them is crucial. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy the great outdoors without the worry of getting stung.

Wasp hive.

Understanding Wasp Stings

Summertime is perfect for outdoor fun, but it’s also when wasps and other stinging insects are most active. Spending time outdoors means you might encounter wasps. If you get stung, here’s what to do.

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Do Wasps Sting or Bite?

Wasps can bite, but it’s their sting that worries most people. Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times because they retain their stingers. They are generally more aggressive than bees and can attack bee colonies when searching for food.

Do Wasps Die After Stinging?

No, wasps do not die after they sting. Their smaller barbs don’t stick in the skin, allowing them to sting repeatedly. On the other hand, bee stingers have large barbs that cause them to detach, leading to the bee’s death.

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Arm with a wasp sting.

Symptoms of a Wasp Sting

Reactions to wasp venom vary widely. Some people experience only minor pain and redness, while others may suffer severe allergic reactions.

Typical symptoms include sharp pain, redness, and a raised welt with a white mark in the center. These usually subside within hours. Severe symptoms, such as prolonged redness or swelling, nausea, and vomiting, may require medical attention.

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Watch for signs of an allergic reaction, like swollen facial features, hives, itching away from the sting site, and difficulty breathing. These can indicate a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis, which needs immediate medical care.

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Treating a Wasp Sting

Most wasp stings don’t need medical treatment. If you have typical symptoms, wash the sting site with soap and water and apply a cold compress or ice to reduce swelling. Over-the-counter pain relievers, anti-itch creams, antihistamines, or natural remedies can help ease discomfort.

For severe reactions, such as vomiting, hives, or trouble breathing, seek medical help right away. Professional treatment is essential for managing life-threatening allergies.

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Close up of a wasp. Discover how to treat wasp stings and the best ways to prevent these painful encounters while enjoying your summer activities.

Preventing Wasp Stings

After being stung, you’ll want to prevent future encounters. While you can’t control wasps in public spaces, you can take steps to deter them from your home.

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First, locate and remove any nests near your home. You can spray the nests yourself or hire a pest control professional. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests avoiding perfumed soaps and toiletries, cleaning up discarded food, wearing body-covering clothing, and not swatting at wasps to reduce the chances of being stung.

Bonus: Pro Tip!

Question: How can I keep wasps out of my backyard?
Answer: Create a wasp trap by mixing sugar and water in a small margarine tub. Make a small hole in the lid, secure it, and hang the tub in a tree. This trap should attract wasps, keeping them away from your picnic.

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Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals. This article is for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

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2 Comments

  1. The picture is of a what I call yellow jacket. The have in the ground nest. They can also be aggressive.

  2. Hi Jack! Yup, good eye! That was the closest picture we could find to help illustrate the article 🙂 Hope you’re having a great weekend! – Kitty