The Parenting Weblog

With summer in full swing, taking a few minutes to go over bee safety issues is a good idea. A number of people are allergic to bee stings with the range of a bad reaction all the way to death. Sharing with your kids the best way to deal with bees helps keep them and others around them safe.

Check out this good guide for bee stings first aid, First Aid for Bee and Insect Stings. It had some tidbits that I didn't know about.

If you are attacked by several stinging insects at the same time, run to get away from them. Bees release a chemical when they sting. This alerts other bees to the intruder. More bees often follow. Go indoors or jump into water. Outdoors, a shaded area is better than an open area to get away from the insects.

There are several signs of an allergic reaction to bee stings. Look for swelling that moves to other parts of the body, especially the face or neck. Check for difficulty in breathing, wheezing, dizziness or a drop in blood pressure. Get the person immediate medical care if any of these signs are present. It is normal for the area that has been stung to hurt, have a hard swollen lump, get red and itch. There are kits available to reduce the pain of an insect sting. They are a valuable addition to a first aid kit.