No one likes a party crasher, right? Yet picnics and barbecues seem to attract their fair
share—at least of the winged variety. These scavengers — wasps, bees, yellow jackets, and
hornets — often hover near food and sweet-scented drinks (not to mention people wearing bright colors
or perfume).
Stinging insects may hang out around your garbage cans, too, and build nests in trees, bushes, under the
eaves of buildings, and sometimes on the ground (so it’s wise to keep your shoes on). Be cautious
about disturbing a nest: removing it could be a job for professionals.
For most of us, stinging insects are just an annoyance. If one lands on you, don’t panic or swat at
it. Instead, hold still and gently blow on the insect to encourage it to fly away. If you do get stung,
you’ll probably experience localised discomfort and swelling.
Washing the area with cold water, taking an antihistamine, and using a cold compress will help ease pain and
reduce swelling.