Wasp Sting: Tips to Avoid and Treat

Wasp stings can be extremely uncomfortable. You can read here how you can avoid stings and what to do if you do get stung.

Wasps are still widely regarded as aggressive animals that sting for no reason. However, you better reconsider this image about wasps. Because wasps are very well able to distinguish between a threatening and a non-threatening situation. Hectic movements and direct breathing or blowing on a wasp, for example, is immediately perceived as a threat. Admittedly, it is very difficult to remain calm when a wasp is buzzing around right in front of your eyes. In such a situation, however, only the right behavior can often save you from a sting. Waiting or moving slowly and in a controlled manner will save you from a sting. Frantic waving, on the other hand, will provoke the wasp to sting. It is completely different in the immediate vicinity of a wasp nest. There you will be perceived as a threat from a certain distance and the closer you get to the nest, the more likely it is to be stung.

Prevent wasp stings from free-flying wasps

Even if you don't have a wasp nest in your garden, you will hardly be able to prevent wasps from arriving in summer. Dealing with the unloved neighbors correctly is much more important in order to avoid painful bites. Consistent use of insect protection nets helps to avoid wasps in your home. If the nets are installed correctly, your living space will be completely protected from wasps. The situation is different outdoors, such as on the terrace or in the garden. Here you are helplessly exposed to the sometimes aggressive wasps at a barbecue party or at breakfast in the morning in summer.

The common wasp and the German wasp in particular like to enrich themselves with sweet foods and meat, since they are not afraid of contact with people. A relatively effective protection against annoying wasps and an avoidable sting are water spray bottles. A well-aimed blast of water on the wasp and it usually turns away. Because the wasp now thinks it's going to rain and is looking for the nest for this reason. So that you are on the safe side and get through the summer stitch-free, we have summarized other important aspects for you:

• Cover open food as much as possible.
• Wasps can get into unattended drinks and be swallowed, so cover drinks or use a straw.
• wash mouth and fingers after eating; especially watch out for children.
• Remove fallen fruit as this attracts a lot of wasps.
• Perfume, brightly colored clothing and creams can also attract wasps.

There is also a very efficient way of keeping the wasps away from you and the food. In summers with large numbers of wasps, the wasps should be provided with an "alternative meal" throughout. Of course, this should be done in a place where the wasps will not disturb anyone. The wasps gratefully accept sweet fruit waste and small amounts of meat waste. The wasps memorize the spot after a while and will routinely fly to it, never even bothering to look for food at your dining table.

Avoid wasp stings in the wasp nest

For a wasp colony, the nest is the basis of life. This is where the queen wasp lives and takes care of the offspring with the workers. At the same time, the nest serves as protection in adverse weather. Without the nest, the wasp colony would be lost, so it is not surprising that wasps will defend their nest at all costs. A wasp's most effective weapon is its stinger. With this they can (in contrast to the bee) sting several times. If you want to be on the safe side, you should keep a distance of at least 3 meters from a wasp nest. However, this distance is only a guide value, because wasps that have often been disturbed can also attack at greater distances.

In any case, you should always move calmly and not hectically in the immediate vicinity of a wasp nest. In the same way, vibrations should be avoided and covering the approach holes on the nest should be avoided. If you poke around in the nest, stitches are practically pre-programmed. Should a wasp attack occur, then you must leave the scene purposefully, but without hectic movements. Wasps can use pheromones to sting other wasps and for this reason you need to create a distance between the nest and the wasps and yourself.

Incidentally, small wasp nests that are not in dark places are often built by more peaceful wasps. The more aggressive wasp species only build their nests in dark areas, and the nests grow relatively large as the season progresses. A pumpkin-sized wasp nest from the more aggressive common or German wasp is not uncommon. You can read here how to deal with a wasp nest.

What to do after a wasp sting

First of all, good news: Since the sting of wasps usually does not fall off, it does not get stuck in the skin, as is the case with bees. As a result, less poison is released into the body. The bee's stinger has a venom sac that continuously pumps venom into the wound until the stinger is pulled out. So if you've been stung by a wasp and can't find a stinger, that's a small consolation. Although wasp stings can be very painful, in most cases they are not dangerous to health. In order to keep the swelling and pain caused by the wasp sting within limits, a few points should be observed.

Treat wasp sting

• Thoroughly disinfect the puncture site
• Immediate and continuous cooling counteracts excessive swelling
• Special ointments from the pharmacy help against the itching
• The well-known onion is now very controversial; it should not necessarily work against the swelling and the pain
• Aloe Vera helps reduce pain and swelling and prevents inflammation.

In the case of a wasp sting, the severe pain often disappears after a short time. After 3 days at the latest, the pain should be gone and the swelling should also be noticeably reduced. If symptoms have not improved after this period, a doctor should definitely be consulted.

We recommend the following products:

• Electronic Sting Healer: For the external treatment of insect stings and insect bites (e.g. B. mosquitoes, wasps, bees, hornets or horseflies). Acts quickly against itching, burning, pain and swelling and is also suitable for pregnant women and allergy sufferers.
  
• Fenistil Roll On: The cooling Fenistil gel has a calming effect insect bites and sunburn.
• Insecticide Remover: Compact and easy to use. Ideal to take away when Bathing, traveling, hiking etc.

When wasp stings are really dangerous

It can only become dangerous if the wasp bites the mouth, throat or throat area. The swelling can make breathing difficult or stop it altogether. A doctor should be consulted immediately. The sting site can be cooled until the treatment, so that the swelling is delayed. Wasp stings are even more dangerous for people who are allergic to the wasp venom. This affects about 3% of the German population. Here, a single sting can be life-threatening, while in a person without allergies it only becomes really dangerous after 100 stings.

After a sting, an allergy manifests itself in the form of skin rashes, headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath and severe swelling at the site of the sting. In this case, a doctor must be consulted immediately! The worst case for an allergy sufferer is anaphylactic shock. This is announced by symptoms such as tingling and burning in the mouth and throat, tachycardia, drop in blood pressure, vomiting and unconsciousness. In the worst case, the state of shock leads to respiratory and circulatory arrest. People who are allergic to wasp stings should therefore always carry an emergency kit with special medication.