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BE CAREFUL WITH STINGS AND BITES

Do you know which is the largest group of animals with whom we human beings share this earth? Not sure! They are arthropods, the animal phyla to which ants, bees, wasps, mosquitoes, spiders and scorpions belong. This phylum contains nearly 75 percent of the species of animals found in this world. A majority of these eight legged, generally tiny, creatures don't have much of an interaction with humans, but the few that have, cause untold misery and pain to man.

Thousands of these species possess venom, but attacking a man by arthropods remains remarkably uncommon. This is due to two factors. First, most venoms are used for capturing prey, and humans are too large to be prey for arthropods except parasitic and blood feeding species. Second, those arthropods which use their venom for defense (and most will if pressed) generally do so as a last resort.

Some of them, when they sting or bite a man, can even cause death. What actually the terms bite and sting denote? Many often use the words "bite" and "sting" interchangeably, even in the same sentence, to describe one mode of venom injection. In the strict sense, "bite" describes venom injected via structures associated with the mouth such as fangs or mandibles and "sting" connotes the injection of venom via a tapered, posterior structure most accurately called a sting (or colloquially, stinger).

Most insects will not attack if left alone. If provoked, a bee will sting in defense of its nest or itself. Thousands of people are stung each year.

How to Reduce the Risk of Being Stung by an insect.

• Wear light-coloured, smooth-finished clothing. Avoid bright and dark coloured clothing especially with flowery designs. Bees   can mistake you for a flower.
• Cover the body as much as possible with clothing.
• Avoid perfumed soaps, shampoos, and deodorants. Don't wear cologne or perfume. Avoid bananas and banana-scented  and other sweet scented toiletries.
• Wear clean clothing and bathe daily. Sweat angers bees.
• Never sweat or flail at a flying insect, if need be gently brush it aside or wait for it to leave.
• Avoid flowering plants.
• Keep areas clean. Stinging and biting insects thrive in places where humans discard food, so clean up picnic tables, grills and other outdoor eating areas.
• If a single stinging insect is flying around, remain still or lie face down on the ground. The face is the most likely place for a  bee or wasp to sting. Swinging or swatting at an insect may cause it to sting.
• If several stinging insects attack you 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.
• If a bee comes inside your vehicle, stop the car slowly, and open all the windows.
• Avoid walking barefoot in the grass
• Insect repellents don't work against stinging insects.
• Do not drink from open beverage cans, insects are attracted by the sweet odour of the beverage and may crawl inside the can.
  If eating outdoors, keep food covered at all times; insects are also attracted by the food that you relish.
  Periodic pest control is necessary.
• Protective clothing should include footwear. Gloves should be used when working with soil or in areas of heavy infestation.

What to Do if a Person is Stung

• Have someone stay with the victim to be sure that they do not have an allergic reaction.
• Wash the site with soap and water.
• The stinger can be removed using gauze wiped over the area or by scraping a fingernail over the area.
• Apply ice to reduce the swelling.
• Do not scratch the sting. This will cause the site to swell and itch more, and increase the chance of infection.

Allergic Reactions to Stings

Allergic reactions to stings can be deadly. There are several signs of an allergic reaction to insect stings. Look for swelling that moves to other parts of the body, especially the face or neck. Check for difficulty in breathing, wheezing, or dizziness.

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.

Most insect bites may be treated acutely with a compress after routine wound cleaning, or using a mixture of one part household bleach to nine parts water. This will minimize the pain and help sterilize the wound to prevent secondary infection.

In the case of a large local reaction, ice packs may also be useful in minimizing the swelling. Ice should be applied for no more than 15 min at a time and using a cloth barrier between ice and skin to prevent direct thermal injury to the skin.

In many cases, there is no need for transport to a hospital. Those requiring transport include anyone who develops signs or symptoms of a systemic response and those with a history of insect-related allergy.