Summer Safety for Sitters: Bee Stings
June is National Safety Month and with so many sitters starting their summer jobs right around now, this is the perfect time to run through some quick tips on summer safety.
We’re going to do a brief series on what to do in the cases of summer hazards such as bee stings and burns, so that you’re best prepared to help keep the kids safe this season.
First up: bee stings.
If a Bee Lands on a Child
Bees can be pretty scary for kids, and if one lands on a child, his first instinct may be to flail, run or swat the insect. This can agitate the bee and cause it to sting, so here are a few quick tips for reacting when a bee lands.
What you should do if a bee lands on a child:
- Tell the child to stay still and pretend he’s a statue.
- Blow gently on the bee to encourage it to fly away without startling it.
Treating a Bee Sting
As any sitter knows, the first step is to calm the child who has been stung. He’s in pain and he’s scared, so keep a reassuring tone, give a hug and work your babysitting magic to make him feel better — but do it QUICKLY. The longer a stinger stays in, the more venom it releases.
- SCRAPE. Rather than pinching the stinger or using tweezers to remove it (which can release more of the stinger’s venom), use your fingernail or a credit card to scrape the stinger away. If you still see a black dot on the child, the stinger is still in there.
- CLEAN. Wash the area with soap and water to prevent germs from getting into the wound.
- COOL. Place an ice pack (wrapped in a cloth) on the area for 10 to 30 minutes to minimize swelling and relieve pain.
- SOOTHE. Consider applying a paste of baking soda and water to the area to help soothe it and draw out the venom.
Signs of an Allergic Reaction
Some children are allergic to bees and even if a parent tells you that his/her child is not one of them, you still need to know the signs of an allergic reaction just in case any of these symptoms present themselves.
- Hives/rash over many parts of the child’s body
- Swelling hands, face or tongue
- Shortness of breath or difficult breathing
- Tightness in the chest
- Dizziness or fainting
Call 911 immediately if a child you’re caring for experiences these symptoms after a bee sting!
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June 6th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
The information on bee stings was a refresher one for me. I am allergic to bees. I carry a shot with me. So far I haven’t had to use it, even though I did get stung. I immediately make a past of meat tenderizer, while I am applying a ice pack on the bite. It has worked like a charm both times I was bit.
June 15th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I am also allergic to bees. I have an epipen but I have not been stung recently. In the past, I have used benedryl to help lessen the chance of anaphylaxis developing to it’s full extent. I’m not suggesting doing this for children without parental consent, but if you have no other options for yourself, for example if you’re out hiking with no cell service, this is a good thing to carry with you whether you are allergic or not. It could help to lessen the severity of a severe allergic reaction which can develop in people that have been stung before with no reaction.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Thank you so much for your solutions
July 9th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Thanks for the suggestion about the statue. I babysit a 5 year old that is afraid of bees so we will practice this so it will come naturally if this ever happens.
July 11th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Thank you. Very helpful.
July 13th, 2009 at 11:13 am
My son is quite allergic to stings. They have a venom kit that i used to carry. It has a reverse vacuum pump to pull the stinger out…works marvelously.
Poison Control Center is another great resource. My eldest son wanted to taste everything…they are great at telling you what to do. Great carring people.
Prayers that all the children are safe.
July 13th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Iodine works so good for any type of insect bite, just put a drop of iodine on the area, before make sure the person is not alergic to iodine.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Let’s not forget our four legged friends. Many animals are also allergic to bee stings. The internet is a great source to find first aid information for your pets on bee stings, before it happens.
And if you want to take pet first aid a step farther than bee stings, I recently took a pet first aid course for peace of mind and I am glad I did.