The fact that insect stings can be very dangerous is demonstrated by Sunday’s intervention by the Świeradów Zdrój Medical Rescue Team. The situation was described on the Facebook profile of the Ambulance Service in Jelenia Góra:
The season for insect stings is open!
Yesterday, our #D0222 team, that is, #ZRMSwieradowZdroj, provided assistance to a patient who had been stung by a bee. The woman had previously experienced severe allergic reactions after being bitten, so the situation posed a threat to her health and life. The patient’s husband kept his cool and removed the stinger immediately after the sting—this is one of the most important elements of first aid in such situations.
After arriving at the scene, Ewa and Szymon administered medication to interrupt the allergic reactions. This is the second, very important element of helping people who are severely allergic, including to bee venom. The injured woman’s condition improved enough for her to remain at the scene, and it was not necessary to transport her to hospital.
We remind you that first aid in such situations consists of:
- removing the factor to which the injured person is allergic, such as removing a bee or wasp stinger,
- calling for help via 999 or 112—if the patient’s condition is rapidly worsening and they have difficulty breathing or increasing swelling of the tongue or lips,
- administering adrenaline intramuscularly if an EpiPen (pre-filled syringe) is available. Anyone can take this step—the witness to the incident or the patient themselves.
In the case of allergic reactions that did not occur suddenly but whose symptoms appeared over a longer period, antihistamines should help. The patient may then contact their primary care doctor or the Night and Holiday Medical Care service.