Getting stung by a bee is unpleasant, but for most people, it’s simply an inconvenience. For someone who is allergic to bee stings, however, it can be a life-threatening situation. Here are some things that you should do if you get stung by a bee.

What to Do If You’re Not Allergic to Bee Stings

1. Remove the stinger from your skin. If the bee left behind a stinger, you should be able to scrape it off with your fingernail.
2. After you remove the stinger, wash the site of the sting with soap and water. 
3. Put a cold compress on the area where you got stung.
4. If the site of the sting is painful, take an over-the-counter pain reliever that contains ibuprofen.
5. If you got stung on your arm or leg, elevate the affected limb.
6. If the site of the sting gets red, swollen, or itchy, use hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to ease your symptoms. 
7. If that doesn’t help, try taking an antihistamine that contains diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine.
8. Don’t scratch the area where you got stung. That can make your discomfort worse and make the site more likely to get infected.
9. If you have an epinephrine autoinjector, use it yourself or have someone else use it as soon as possible after you get stung. If you don’t have an autoinjector, call 911 and tell the dispatcher that you’re allergic to bee stings.
10. If you have a reaction that makes you suspect that you might have an allergy, seek medical help, then follow up with your doctor. Your primary care physician can refer you to a specialist for allergy testing and treatment.

Make Sure You Have a Well-Stocked First Aid Kit Available

Most people aren’t allergic to bee stings, and in most instances, treating a sting is straightforward. You just need to have the right supplies available.1^st Aid Supplies offers first aid kits and cabinets that contain items that can be helpful when treating a bee sting, such as cold packs, over-the-counter pain relievers, and hydrocortisone cream. Our kits and cabinets also include assorted bandages, gloves, CPR supplies, gauze, tweezers, and other products that can be used to treat common injuries such as cuts, scrapes, and burns. Order a first aid kit online today.