Some little “critters” carry a big wallop
Most insect bites and stings are minor and the reaction is localized. Often an insect injects a substance with its bite that causes a painful, stinging sensation. More serious problems may arise if you’re bitten by a poisonous insect — such as a black widow or brown recluse spider — or if you experience an allergic reaction
What you can do
If emergency care is required
Until emergency care can be obtained:
Apply ice or cold water to the bite for five minutes. For protection, place a washcloth between bare skin and ice.
If the bite is on a hand or foot, keep the limb snugly bandaged above the bite for five minutes (but make sure there is still circulation to the limb). Do not apply a tourniquet.
Keep the limb below the level of the heart.

When emergency care is not required
Scrape out or flick out any stinger that may be left in the skin by scraping it out with your fingernail. Avoid squeezing the stinger.
Use calamine lotion or over-the-counter (OTC) hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and inflammation.
Apply ice. For protection, place a washcloth between bare skin and ice.
If itching becomes severe, try an over-the-counter (OTC) oral antihistamine such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton.
Prevention
General precautions
Avoid wearing perfume if you’ll be spending time outdoors — it attracts bees.
Get reliable instructions before trying to remove a beehive or nest. Follow directions on commercial products.
If known to be allergic to bees, always carry an anaphylactic kit. You can get one with a prescription from your doctor.
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