A sting in the tail

It's that time of year again. The sun is out (occasionally), barbecues are lit (sometimes), summer fetes are held (possibly indoors) and wasps are coming out to play (always).

I've been on first aid duty at a few events where wasps have been an issue and it's fascinating, and somewhat amusing, to see the various reactions by people when stung by these vicious beasts.

Woman tend to take the sting in their stride by just brushing it off and getting on with their day. I don’t think I’ve ever actually had a woman request first aid for a wasp sting.

Children are quite shocked at first by this new pain sensation as they cannot see any obvious cause such as a wound or a bruise. They'll sob for a short time until they realise the pain is fading and then start to enjoy the attention they receive.

As for blokes, their reaction is the most entertaining as they approach the first aid post, hiding the pain by speaking through gritted teeth, and asking for some kind of magic medicine. It’s nearly always the burlier blokes who look the most upset. It's often tempting to congratulate them on being such brave little soldiers before sending them on their way.

So how would you treat a sting? Look out for any signs of danger first as a sting can have dire consequences. Are there any indications that they could go into anaphylactic shock - rapid pulse, laboured breathing, swelling around face or developing a rash? Is there a history of it, have they or a family member suffered from anaphylaxis? Was the patient stung in the mouth or on the neck where any swelling could cause breathing difficulties? If so then seek medical attention. If the patient is anaphylactic and has an auto-injector (epinephrine) pen then you could help them to use it.

In the meantime, sit them in a comfortable position that relieves any breathing difficulties, this usually means sitting them upright. If the pulse rate drops and they begin to look pale, lie them down and put their feet up as this gets blood and oxygen to the upper part of the body where it’s needed most.

In the vast majority of cases however, a sting is not in any way serious, just a wee bit of pain that soon fades. If this is the case and there are no indications of an allergic reaction or breathing difficulties, I would be inclined to leave it. Speaking as someone who is a wasp magnet and has been stung many times, the pain does go away quickly.

If you have something chilled, e.g. cold drink or ice, then place this against the sting in order to numb the pain and reduce any inflammation.

Of course the best thing to do is not to get stung in the first place. If you do see a wasp nearby, just leave it alone and don’t start taking wild swipes at it. Inevitably you will miss, look silly and get stung in the process.