Bee Stings Hurt

It has been over 20 years since I was last stung by a bee. Twenty years, that is, until TODAY...

Today, while Marisa and I were viewing a potential apartment, we apparently disturbed the current residents living under the deck. When we first walked out on the deck there was nothing at all to indicate that we were in danger. Within mere seconds, however, we were swarmed by a cloud of yellow jackets. It took me some time to realize just what was happening, and by the time I realized we were under attack it was too late.

Marisa screamed about the same time I realized that the swarm was a mass of angry yellow jackets. I grabbed her and ran back inside, shutting the door behind me. Even with my quick reaction, we both managed to be stung twice each. The leasing agent was also stung twice.

We were also followed by a few of those bees, but managed somehow to avoid any more stings. We quickly vacated the premises and sent the maintenance crew down to the apartment to seek revenge upon the masses.

In honor of my new found appreciation for the discomfort of bee stings, I would like to provide you with a bit of advice on how to deal with such a situation.

First, vacate the premises if you find yourself amidst an unhappy gang of bees. Standing there in awe and wondering where they are all coming from is never a good idea.

Second, check your clothes before checking those stings. Make sure there are no stragglers waiting in ambush. (I found one attached to the hem of my pants leg busily attacking my clothing. Lucky for me, the hem was too thick for the bee to sting me through the fabric.) Small children should be thoroughly stripped to ensure that there are no bees hiding in the folds of their clothes.

After you are certain that the attackers are no longer able to wreak havoc upon you or you child, check the stings for stingers. Removing those stingers is an important first step in treating bee stings because as long as the stinger is in the skin, venom is still being released. Applying ice to the sting will help alleviate some of the swelling and discomfort, as will a dose of Tylenol and Benadryl. If your child is truly distraught - and most will be - applying liberal amounts of chocolate will generally help the child calm down. (Marisa got Jolly Ranchers to help distract her from the situation, but those are not something I would recommend for just any child as they could pose a choking hazard.)

It is important to watch your child closely because many people are allergic to bee stings and the only way to find out if you happen to have that allergy is by being stung. If your child exhibits any extreme reactions, such as difficulty breathing or excessive swelling, then you will need to immediately contact your local rescue units. (Dial 911 here in The States...)

After you manage to take care of your child, then you can stop and deal with your own issues (unless you happen to be allergic to bees, in which case you might need to care for yourself first to ensure the safety of you and your child). The same techniques that are helpful for your child can also be used to alleviate your own discomfort.

Just remember that while those bees may be somewhat aggressive, they are only doing what comes natural to them in order to protect their homes. Also keep in mind that for each bee that managed to get its little stinger into your skin, there is now a DEAD BEE. The use of their stinger is an automatic death sentence to the offending bee because when the bee moves away from you, it leaves the stinger (and a few vital parts of its body) behind.

Bwa ha ha....