What to do when your child gets stung by a bee

With summer coming to a close that can mean those buzzy little friends in the backyard suddenly aren't so friendly. When bees start to sense the cold weather coming they can start to act a little frantic and for our outdoor loving kiddos this can spell big trouble. Bees may sting without being directly threatened if our sweet little ones get too close to a flower there eyeing or just step in the wrong spot. A couple of weeks ago my daughter got stung by a wasp and while I thought I knew what to do there was still that little voice inside my head second guessing. So I decided it might be nice to put it down in words for all those confused little second guesses out there to be silenced and sure:

                What to do when your child gets stung by a bee

 

 

IF YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN STUNG IN THE MOUTH GET HIM OR HER TO THE DOCTOR IMMEDIATLY (The mucus membranes in a child's mouth can cause there airways to swell and be blocked)

 

 

In other cases:

 

1) The very first thing you need to do when you child gets a bee or wasp sting is to remove the stinger, There may be a little part of the venom sack it will look like a little part of the bee's guts  make sure it is all removed. You can use your fingers or a firm flat item like a credit card just do it right away as the venom will continue to spread.

 

2)Wash the area with soap and water. Apply a cold washcloth or some ice to the area for a few minutes. You'll need to monitor swelling at this point to ensure the sting area is not swollen and growing. A great way to do this is take a marker and draw a little line around the area if you check on it in a few minutes and the swelling has grown beyond the marker lines you'll know that the venom is still having an affect.

 

3)If they are in pain you can give them a dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Your child may be itchy ask them not to scratch little open stings like this can be susceptible to infection. This is the point where I give my own children a dose of Children's Benadryl or Reactine but this is only advise if your children has used these products before, or has been advised by a doctor.

 

When to call the doctor:

 

 

 Once again if your child was stung in the mouth it's very important to get attention as soon as possible. It is very likely you won't know if your child is allergic to bee's until they have been stung so here is the signs of an anaphylactic reaction if your child has any of these symptoms they need immediate attention. Dial 911 or get to the emergency room right away:

 

 

 Wheezing or trouble breathing

Swollen lips, tongue, or face

Hives, and flushed or pale skin

Weak or rapid pulse

Dizziness or fainting

Nausea or vomiting

Loss of consciousness

Your child should go to their pediatrician if there's continued swelling or a large rash after 3 days.

You can judge what the right thing to do is for your child but always be watchful after bee stings to make sure there is no escalation. With a bad allergic reaction the most severe symptoms can show within 10 minutes. Thanks for reading please stay safety informed, and Bee Safe!