0161 250 1616
Basket (0) Login

Stings — Reference Guide

? Insect Stings

How to treat stings and recognize severe allergic reactions

? Bee or Wasp Sting

  1. Stay calm and move away from the insect: Avoid further stings.
  2. Remove the sting if visible:
    • Scrape it sideways with a credit card or fingernail.
    • Avoid using tweezers (squeezing may inject more venom).
  3. Wash the area: Use soap and water to reduce the risk of infection.
  4. Apply a cold compress: Helps reduce swelling and pain (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off).
  5. Take antihistamines or painkillers: Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain, antihistamines for swelling/itching.
  6. Monitor for allergic reaction: ➤ Call 999 immediately if signs of anaphylaxis appear (see below).

? Signs of Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis) ?

  • Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
  • Difficulty breathing or speaking
  • Rash or hives spreading rapidly
  • Nausea, vomiting, or collapse

? Call 999 immediately and use an adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen) if available.

? Marine Stings (e.g., Jellyfish)

  1. Get out of the water safely.
  2. Do NOT rub the area: This can worsen the sting.
  3. Rinse with seawater (NOT fresh water): Fresh water can trigger more venom release.
  4. Use hot water immersion: Place the stung area in water as hot as the person can tolerate (ideally 40–45°C) for 30–90 minutes.
  5. Seek medical help: Especially if the sting covers a large area or symptoms worsen.

? Other Types of Stings

? Scorpion or Exotic Insects (abroad)

  • Wash the area and apply a cold pack.
  • Seek urgent medical help, especially if stung abroad or if symptoms spread.

? When to Seek Medical Advice

  • Sting in the mouth, throat or near eyes
  • Signs of infection (pus, redness spreading, fever)
  • Swelling that worsens after 24 hours
  • Sting in someone with known allergies

Related Topics

Further Information

Google Reviews

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5 (406 reviews)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Chris was such a great trainer for our one-day course. Informative, attentive and friendly! Learned so much and helped i…”

Adam Dixon
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I highly recommend this course! The training was clear, engaging, and very well structured. The instructor was professio…”

Ewelina
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I highly recommend the one-day First Aid at Work course that I attended at Caroline House, as part of a group from our s…”

Krysia Grzywinska
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“It was a wonderful course for learning first aid knowledge. The teacher's lively and engaging lessons made us learn in a…”

Sofia Lu
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I attended the three‑day First Aid at Work course with Sarah and had a brilliant experience. Sarah was friendly and appr…”

Gwendolen D’Adamo
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Absolutely fantastic 3 days with Sarah! From coming in the first day was made to feel welcome!! Nothing was to small or …”

Natalie Costello
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“The course was held at my workplace on a Saturday, it was interesting,informative and very educational - I now feel conf…”

dee godleman
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Highly recommended First Aid at Work Course. Well structured, informative and provides a good skill set to not only use…”

Connor Tickle
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I had a great experience with the first aid training. Sarah was incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the course.…”

M Hassan
See all reviews »