Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with sting allergy, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person was stung by a bee, wasp, hornet, or ant and is developing an allergic reaction beyond normal local pain and swelling.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Move away. Scrape stinger out. Call 112 if breathing bad. EpiPen if severe. Cold pack on sting.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Large local swelling at sting site alone is common — watch for symptoms elsewhere on the body.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hives or itching far from the sting site.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Swelling of lips, tongue, or throat; wheezing or tight chest.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Dizziness, nausea, or feeling faint — possible shock.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Most stings cause local pain and swelling. A true sting allergy affects the whole body and can become anaphylaxis.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — People with known sting allergies can react within minutes. A second sting can be more dangerous.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Lead the person away from the insect nest or swarm.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Look for a stinger in the skin. Scrape sideways with a fingernail or card — do not pinch with tweezers.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If systemic symptoms appear — call 112 or 108 and get epinephrine ready.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — For severe allergy — epinephrine in outer thigh, lay flat, legs raised unless vomiting.
When and how to get professional help.
Call if trouble breathing, swelling away from sting site, vomiting, dizziness, or known sting allergy with any systemic symptoms.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Remove stinger safely, give epinephrine if needed, call for help. Do not cut or suck the sting site.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 or 108 if breathing symptoms, widespread hives, fainting, or epinephrine use.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say what insect stung them and whether they have a known allergy.
Useful questions before or while you help.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT squeeze or pinch the stinger — this injects more venom.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT cut the skin or try to suck out venom.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT stay near the nest or swat at flying insects — this provokes more stings.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You should suck venom out of a bee sting
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sucking does not remove venom effectively and can introduce mouth bacteria into the wound. Scrape the stinger out instead.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Use EpiPen
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Someone is having a severe allergic reaction and you need to help them use an epinephrine auto-injector before help arrives.
Anaphylaxis
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is developing a rapid, whole-body allergic reaction after food, medicine, insect sting, or unknown trigger. Breathing or circulation may be failing.
Drug allergy
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person develops rash, swelling, breathing problems, or shock after taking a medicine — prescription, over-the-counter, or traditional remedy.
Food allergy
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person develops allergic symptoms — hives, swelling, vomiting, or breathing difficulty — after eating food they are allergic to or suspect they are allergic to.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — For local swelling only — cold compress on sting site for 10-15 minutes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Watch for 30-60 minutes — reactions can worsen after initial improvement.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Any systemic allergic symptoms after a sting need emergency evaluation.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Multiple stings (dozens) can cause venom poisoning even without allergy — seek help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Infection and wasted time during a possible anaphylactic reaction.