First Aid for Stings
First aid for sting victims
Project personnel should be trained and authorised to apply appropriate treatments according to current legal regulations applying in individual states and territories. There may be a legal requirement for persons to self-administer medication.
Bee stings are seldom fatal unless there is a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or the victim has been stung many times in a mass attack. However, even if a person receives only one or two stings and appears relatively untroubled, those giving first aid should be alert for symptoms of allergic reaction.
Practical first aid instructions for sting victims are as follows:
- Remove stings with a scraping, sideways movement of fingernail or knife to prevent more venom being pumped in by the venom sac. Do not use tweezers or squeeze the sting, as this will inject more venom into the victim.
- Avoid vigorous exercise or heat.
- Apply an ice pack to relieve pain and calamine lotion to relieve itching.
- Keep the victim under observation in case they develop an allergic reaction (see below for symptoms and action plan).
Action plan for anaphylaxis
Mild to moderate allergic reaction
- swelling of lips, face and eyes
- hives or welts
- abdominal pain, vomiting.
Action
- Stay with person and call for help
- Give medications (if prescribed)
- Locate EpiPen
- or EpiPen
- Jr
- Contact family/carer.
Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
- difficulty/noisy breathing
- swelling of tongue
- swelling/tightness in throat
- difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
- wheeze or persistent cough
- loss of consciousness and/or collapse
- pale and floppy (young children).
Action
- Give EpiPen
- or EpiPen
- Jr
- Call ambulance: telephone 000
- Contact family/carer.
If in doubt about whether the reaction is 'severe', give EpiPen or EpiPen Jr.
All individuals with known anaphylaxis to insect stings should carry adrenaline and have a written action plan. Such a plan will likely involve the following steps:
1. Administration of adrenaline. This should be self-administered deeply into the front outer thigh; the advent of automated adrenaline syringes such as Epipen (0.15 mg 3-5 years, 0.3 mg from 6 years on) has greatly facilitated this step. Inhaled adrenaline devices are no longer routinely available.
2. Seek medical help.
3. Oral administration of H1 antihistamines and in selected cases (eg those with history of severe delayed reactions) oral prednisolone may be also be appropriate.
The following collection of First Aid tips comes directly from the
comprehensive St John First Aid Manual.