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Civilian Emergency Platform
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.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
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.
Scene hazards: More stinging insects nearby, Allergic person panicking
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.
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 — 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.
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 — 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.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You should suck venom out of a bee sting
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sucking does not remove venom effectively and can introduce mouth bacteria into the wound. Scrape the stinger out instead.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Infection and wasted time during a possible anaphylactic reaction.
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.