“Bee” smart about stings and bites.
With the summer sun and increased outdoor activity drawing bees from their hives, it’s important to know what to do—and what not to do. Follow these safety guidelines and treatment tips around bees:
- Bees are attracted to sweet scents, so avoid wearing flowery perfumes or leaving sugary food out
- When drinking sweet beverages outside, check cans and straws for insects before drinking
- Guard your face and neck, the most common places for bees to sting
- If you are stung, apply hydrocortisone cream to ease itching or stinging sensation
- Leave the immediate area, because bee stings release a chemical that attracts other bees to the scene
- Scrape a bee stinger off with a fingernail or dull object—do not pull out using tweezers
- If a swarm of bees is attacking, rather than trying to swat them away, get into a closed area, “play dead,” or dive into water
- If you have experienced an allergic reaction to a bee sting before, professionals recommend carrying an EpiPen with you at all times
Visit the CDC to learn more about bee sting safety.
Check out our other posts about staying safe outdoors: