Bee stings are common incidents in Perth, especially during summertime. During this season, people like to go barefoot outside. It may be in gardens, grasslands, beaches, or outside the house. However, since these are places where bees are usually found or even build their nests, it may be helpful to be cautious of them, especially since bee stings are painful and may even cause severe reactions, like anaphylaxis. Fortunately, there are still ways to avoid bee stings when going barefoot in the summer. All of these will be discussed below, but if these don’t work, knowledge about bee sting first aid treatment may be helpful. Such vital information will also be covered in this topic.
Tips to Prevent Bee Stings
Bee stings are painful like any other animal stings. Even though bee sting first aid treatment may help, prevention is still better than cure. It may be done by following some tips.
Avoid Bee Hives
Beehives are enclosed structures that are dome-shaped or a box. These act as the habitat or dwelling place for bees wherein the young bees are raised. If you can’t avoid going barefoot in the summer, you may want to watch out for these bee hives and avoid them. Usually, bee hives are found in:
- Eaves or soffits of a house
- Gardens
- Woodlands
- Orchards
- Meadows
- Tree hollows
- Letterbox
- Underground burrows
- Plant stems
- Cinder blocks
- Concrete
Many beehives are present where flowering plants are abundant. Keeping a distance from them may help to avoid bee stings when going barefoot in the summertime.
Store Food and Drinks in Containers
According to Amazing Bees, bees are attracted to food with high amounts of sugar or honey. So, if you bring food outside when going barefoot in the summertime, it may be helpful to store them in containers. These may help prevent the bees from getting attracted to the food or drink you bring. The Good Life Designs lists the below safest food containers:
- Glass
- Stainless steel
- Silicone
- Ceramic
These are said to be the safest food storage container materials. They’re non-toxic as they are microwave-safe, don’t absorb food stains, and don’t react with acidic food. Using them may be safe for your food consumption and help avoid bee stings when going barefoot in the summertime.
Avoid Using Scented Body Wash, Perfume, and Shampoo
Bees are known to be attracted to the scent of actual flowers. Similarly, artificial scents from body wash, perfume, and shampoo appeal to them. Using the fragrance-free options may help avoid bee stings when going barefoot in the summertime. Fortunately, many of these are available in many stores in Perth that may be ordered online or bought in-store.
Avoid Pools, Birdbaths, and Rainwater Ponds
Bees are just like any other animals who need water to survive. They find water sources where they can drink and return to it regularly. Research shows that bees collect water from the following sources:
- Pools
- Birdbaths
- Rainwater ponds
Hoselink‘s blog cites research that concluded these sites have high sodium chloride. So, watching for water sources where table salt may be high may help avoid bee stings when going barefoot in the summer.
Bring Wet Wipes
As mentioned above, bees are attracted to sugary food. Aside from storing them in containers, bringing wet wipes may also help to avoid bee stings when going barefoot in the summer. These may be used to clean the hands, mouth, and food spillage. Doing so prevents the bees from being attracted to the food in the container and your body. Many stores in Perth offer travel-sized wet wipes that are just enough to be brought conveniently outside.
Recommended Response when Encountering Bees
Perth is home to many species of bees, so it may still be possible to encounter bees when going barefoot in the summertime. It may happen even after following the tips mentioned above to avoid bee stings. If this happens, the following are the recommended response when encountering bees:
- Allow the bees to continue their activity.
- Avoid waving your arms around.
- Keep calm.
- Move away.
There is no need to panic immediately if you encounter bees, significantly if you have not stepped on them or threatened them.
Bee Sting First Aid Treatment
In some cases, the above tips to avoid bee stings when going barefoot in the summertime may not work. Especially since some bees nest in the ground. It gives more chances for people going barefoot to accidentally step on bees, leading to a painful bee sting. Following first aid practices for bee stings may be helpful.
Bee Sting First Aid Treatment for Minor Reactions
Below are the first aid steps for a minor bee sting reaction:
- Remove the stinger by scraping it off with a fingernail.
- Wash the part that was stung using soap and water.
- Apply a cold compress.
It is essential to stay calm and observe the reactions.
Common Minor Reactions to Bee Stings
The following are considered to be minor reactions to bee stings:
- Instant, sharp burning pain at the sting site.
- Slight swelling around the area.
After applying the above first aid management to a bee sting, observe reactions and see if they persist.
Bee Sting First Aid Treatment for Moderate Reactions
Below is the first aid response for a moderation reaction from a bee sting:
- Remove the stinger by scraping it off with a fingernail.
- Wash the part that was stung using soap and water.
- Apply a cold compress.
- Take a pain reliever if needed.
- Elevate the arm or leg if it’s where the bee stung.
- Apply cream (such as hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion) to ease redness, itching, or swelling.
There are available over-the-counter pain relievers and creams in pharmacies in Perth.
Common Moderate Reactions to Bee Stings
Below are the possible moderate reactions to a bee sting:
- Extreme redness at the stung site.
- Extreme swelling at the stung site.
It is important not to scratch the stung site to prevent further complications.
Bee Sting First Aid Treatment for Severe Reactions
The bee sting may also cause severe reactions in people allergic to them. One is anaphylaxis which may cause an anaphylactic shock. When this occurs, the blood pressure drops and your body won’t get enough oxygen. If first aid response is not administered immediately, this may impose a risk to the life of the stung person.
Signs and Symptoms of Anaphylaxis
Below may be observed if a person is already experiencing anaphylaxis:
- Hives
- Itching
- Flushed or pale skin
- Low blood pressure
- Swollen tongue or throat that may lead to wheezing or difficulty in breathing
- Weak and rapid pulse
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Fainting
Any of these may occur minutes to hours after a bee sting incident.
First Aid Treatment to Anaphylaxis
A person who is experiencing anaphylaxis should be injected with epinephrine immediately. It may be administered using an automatic injection device, like the EpiPen Auto-Injector, and must be done with the prescribed number of injections. Furthermore, epinephrine may only be injected into specific parts of the body. Otherwise, there is a need to call for emergency help. This information may be learned by enrolling in a first aid course at 123C Colin St West Perth 6005.
Conclusion
There are tips on how to avoid bee stings when going barefoot in the summertime. So, avoiding bee stings is still possible while enjoying this season. However, unforeseen events may still occur. One is accidentally stepping on bees, which may lead to a bee sting. It may cause minor to severe reactions; the worst may be anaphylaxis. It may be life-threatening that needs immediate and appropriate first aid response. Knowledge and skills in doing it may be acquired by enrolling in anaphylaxis first aid courses in Perth.
