This is the time of year that parents should talk to their children about the risk of bee stings, and take some precautions.
Honeybees will sting if
provoked or if they’re defending their nests.
The California Division of
Agriculture and Natural Resources has a list of precautions that children can
take to avoid getting injured by bees.
First, children should be
taught to stay away from ALL bee swarms and colonies.
If they encounter a bee swarm,
children should run away quickly. Teach them to protect their faces and eyes as
much as possible while running.
Children should get inside a
car or building to take shelter. Tell children not to swat at bees. Rapid
motions will cause them to sting.
If children do get stung, tell
them to go quickly to a safe area, such as a building or vehicle.
The bee’s stinger should be
removed as soon as possible. Do not squeeze the stinger because pressure will
release more venom. Instead, scrape out the stinger with a fingernail or credit
card.
Wash the sting area with soap
and water. Then, apply an ice pack for a few minutes to relieve pain and
swelling.
Be sure to seek medical
attention if your child has trouble breathing, or has been stung numerous
times.
These simple steps can go a
long way to prevent bee stings, or at least to ease the pain after being stung.
