How life-threatening is a bee sting? Here’s what to do if you are stung by bees or wasps

Two people have died in Kerala following bee stings, in separate incidents, raising concerns about whether bee stings could be life-threatening. An estate worker died at Kalpetta in Wayanad after he was stung by bees. Meanwhile, a young man who travelled to Gudallur on a leisure trip with his friends had died after a swarm of bees attacked him. His friends have sustained injuries and are recovering. In both cases, eagles had destroyed the beehives. One of the victims removed his shirt and tried to drive away the few bees, which attracted the swarm to attack him.

Dangerous bees
Although honey bees look like regular houseflies, they are extremely poisonous. Rock bees, little bees, and Indian hive bees are the kinds that are mostly seen in Kerala. All these bees are likely to attack in swarms. When a bee stings, it thrusts its stinger into the body, releasing the poison into the body. The stinger gets ripped away from the bee and stuck on the body. The bee that had been stung would then die. So, the first step is to remove the stinger from your body, as the fluid that builds up in your body may attract other bees to attack in swarms.

Health problems
The area where you have been stung will turn red. Swelling, itching, and pain are some of the other symptoms. When a person is stung more than once, the poison spreads quickly, disrupting bodily functions. Nausea, unconsciousness, and vomiting are the first symptoms, followed by elevated blood pressure, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, or even death.

First aid is key
Rub some vinegar on the skin as soon as you have been stung, as vinegar acts as an antidote to the poison. Water mixed with baking soda is also excellent, as its acidic nature would remove the toxins. These are only immediate steps that you could take as first aid. The patient should then be rushed to the hospital. However, in the case of children, they should be rushed to the hospital as soon as possible.

Note
Bee hives are found on trees, sides of rocks, rocky structures close to the ground, and high rises. So, try to be cautious while going close to these areas. Do not destroy the bee or wasp hives, as they may attack humans or animals in the vicinity in swarms, sensing danger. The pheromone released by the bees attracts other bees. So, make sure to wear a mask, helmet, gloves, and other protective gear if you have to remove a hive.