It is no secret that bees are essential to the world around us. Bees play a key role in the pollination of many plants. As a general rule, bees are pretty gentle creatures and don’t sting unless they feel they are in danger. A Five Star Termite & Pest Control would like to share some preventative measures that can be taken to make sure you don’t get stung by bees this summer.
How to Avoid Getting Stung By a Bee
There are actually many ways to avoid getting stung by a bee. They include:
1. Avoid wearing sweet fragrances. Bees are attracted to sweet smelling things. Avoid wearing lotions or perfumes with a sweet fragrance.
2. Wear light colored clothing. Bees are attracted to bright or dark colored clothes. They are also attracted to loud floral prints. They might mistake you for a flower patch so avoid wearing too many floral printed clothes.
3. Use your ears. Often times, you can hear the loud hum of bees. If you can hear them and they are all of a sudden louder, they may be agitated and you need to leave the area to avoid getting stung.
4. Don’t leave food out. If you leave out food after eating a meal outside, especially sugary food, it can attract bees. Be careful if you have left cans of soda out for a long time. Bees tend to climb down inside the can and crawl out when you go to pick it back up.
5. If a bee is nearby, hold still. If a bee lands on you, it is best to remain still. Any sudden movements may make the bee feel threatened. Sometimes blowing softly on the bee can encourage the bee to move on.
6. Wear shoes when outdoors. Even though shoes won’t make a difference in whether or not a bee is attracted to you, they will offer protection to your feet. Bees are often on the ground for one reason or another and stepping on one is a danger.
How to Care for a Bee Sting
The average person can tolerate getting stung 10 times per pound of body weight. This is why bees pose more risk to small children than an adult. A small child can be gravely injured by 500 bee stings and an adult can survive up to 1100 bee stings! Obviously, if you have an allergy to bee venom there is a great risk with even one single sting. Many people think they have an allergy when in reality, they are just having normal symptoms. Normal symptoms of a bee sting include: redness and swelling at the sting sight, burning pain and a small white spot where the stinger punctured the skin. Severe reactions to a sting include: difficulty breathing, rapid pulse, nausea and vomiting, dizziness and fainting, swelling of throat and tongue or loss of consciousness. If you are having a severe reaction you should get immediate medical attention. If you have been stung by a bee the first thing that must be done is removal of the stinger. This is where the venom is which causes problems. Rather than using tweezers or other tools to remove the stinger, get a blunt object and scrape the stinger out of the skin. This will make sure there isn’t more venom released into your skin.
Stinging Pest Inspections, Control, Removal & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
Even though bees are gentle and don’t instinctively want to hurt us, bee hives can be very dangerous. If you notice any bee hives in your yard or around your property, it is important to call A Five Star Termite & Pest Control. We can perform a thorough inspection and determine if the stinging insects are bees or wasps and offer a custom treatment plan as appropriate. Trying to do so yourself can put yourself and your loved ones in danger. Call us today!
