Insect stings

Your aims:

  1. Relieve pain and swelling.
  2. Prevent infection.
  3. Try to get medical help if necessary.

Insect stings on the whole are painful rather than dangerous. However, if the casualty is allergic to them, or the sting occurs in the mouth (where it may cause swelling and thus affect breathing), or
there are many stings, emergency action will need to be taken. See Unit 29.

How can you tell that someone has been stung by an insect?

He or she may have:

  1. pain, redness in a light-skinned person or
  2. swelling
  3. itching
  4. signs of an allergic reaction (see Unit 29).

Your actions:

As always, assess D R A B. If the casualty is showing signs of shock, or is having trouble breathing, he or she may be having a massive allergic reaction.
See Unit 29.
If you can see the sting, brush or scrape it off with your fingernails or the edge of a blunt (not sharp) knife or other suitable object. Do not remove the sting with tweezers, since you might squeeze more poison into the wound.

Raise the affected part, if possible, and apply a cold compress (something cold which you can use to apply pressure to the wound – like a cloth with ice wrapped in it) to relieve pain and swelling for at least 10 minutes.

Tell the casualty to go to a doctor or clinic if the pain and swelling do not get better over the next day or so. If the sting occurs in the mouth, there is a risk of swelling which may affect breathing. Encourage the casualty to suck ice or drink cold water to reduce the swelling. If swelling starts, try to
arrange transport to medical help urgently, monitor R A B and reassure the casualty while waiting.

If the casualty is a victim of a swarm attack (e.g. a lot of bees), causing many stings, do not go near until it is safe to do so.

Place the casualty in the most comfortable position.

Keep the casualty quiet, and reassure him or her.

Monitor R A B. Be prepared to resuscitate.

Try to get the person to a clinic or hospital as soon as possible.

Remember to keep checking the casualty’s vital signs and writing down (or remembering) what you found and what you did, so that you can report this to any health worker who takes over from you.

 

What insects (including spiders and scorpions) do you need to worry about where you live?
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