First Aid & Emergencies

Call 911 NOW if you are having:

Chest Pain
Difficulty Breathing
Severe Bleeding

Sudden Weakness or Numbness
A Medical Emergency

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Insect Sting Allergy Treatment

Call 911 if the person has:

Trouble breathing
Feelings of faintness or dizziness
Hives
A swollen tongue
A history of severe allergy reaction to insect stings

If the person does not have severe allergy symptoms:

1. Remove the Stinger

Scrape the area with a fingernail or use tweezers to remove it.

Don't pinch the stinger -- that can inject more venom.

2. Control Swelling

Ice the area.

If you were stung on your arm or leg, elevate it.

Remove any tight-fitting jewelry from the area of the sting. As it swells, rings or bracelets might become hard to get off.

3. Treat Symptoms

For pain, take an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give aspirin to anyone under age 18.

For itchiness, take an antihistamine. You can also apply a mixture of baking soda and water or calamine lotion.

4. Follow-Up

It might take 2-5 days for the area to heal. Keep it clean to prevent infection.

If the person does have severe allergy symptoms (anaphylaxis):

1. Call 911

Seek emergency careif the person has these symptoms or a history of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), even if there are no symptoms:

Difficulty breathing or wheezing

Tightness in the throat or a feeling that the airways are closing

Hoarseness or trouble speaking

Nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting

Fast heartbeat or pulse

Skin that itches, tingles, swells, or turns red

Anxiety or dizziness

Loss of consciousness

2. Inject Epinephrine Immediately

If the person has an anaphylaxis action plan from a doctor for injecting epinephrine and other emergency measures, follow it. Otherwise, if the person carries an epinephrine shot or one is available:

Inject epinephrine if the person is unable to.

If the person has a history of anaphylaxis, don't wait for signs of a severe reaction to inject epinephrine.

Read and follow patient instructions carefully.

Inject epinephrine into outer muscle of the thigh. Avoid injecting into a vein or buttock muscles.

Do not inject medicine into hands or feet, which can cause tissue damage. If this happens, notify emergency room staff.

The person may need more than one injection if there's no improvement after the first. For an adult, inject again after 10 to 20 minutes. For a child, inject again after 5 to 30 minutes.