Protecting Your Family From Bee Stings

Spring and summer is bee season. Getting stung by a bee is never enjoyable, however for people with bee sting allergies it can be fatal. Did you know that most stings from bees or wasps can be avoided? These winged little creatures usually only sting to defend themselves, so the key is to not make them feel threatened. Below is a list of tactics to avoid bee stings.

1. Avoid wearing perfumes or colognes.

• Bees can detect and follow scents and wearing perfumes or colognes may make you smell like a flower and they may be attracted to you, thinking you are nectar.

2. Don’t wear floral or bright colored clothing.

• For the same reasons as not wanting to smell like a flower to avoid bees following you, you also don’t want to look like a flower to a bee and be landed on and/or stung. It is recommended to wear light clothing outdoors such as, khaki, white, beige or other light colors.

3. Be aware of what you are eating outdoors.

• Bees are drawn to sugary foods and drinks. Make sure to look in your can or glass of soda or juice to insure a bee has not flown in for a taste. To help keep the bees away, it is a good idea to avoid leaving pits or peels of fresh fruit and dispose of them promptly.

4. Wear shoes outside.

• Bees may find nectar on small flowers in your lawn, and some wasps make their nest in the ground. To avoid getting stung by accidentally stepping on a bee in the yard it is recommended to not walk around with bare feet.

5. Avoid wearing loose fitting clothes.

• If you are wearing loose fitting clothes, it is easy access for bees or wasps to find their way into an opening. Once inside they are trapped against your skin and their instinct is to sting for protection. It is better to choose tighter fitting cuffs, pants legs and to keep baggy shirts tucked in.

6. Stay still and don’t swat bees, wasps or hornets.

• Swatting at a bee or wasp is the worst thing you can to do to avoid being stung. If a bee, wasp, or hornet comes near you, just take a deep breath and stay calm. It's simply trying to determine if you are a flower or some other item useful to it, and once it realizes you're just a person, it will fly away.

7. Keep the windows in your vehicle rolled up.

• Bees and wasps have a way of getting into your vehicle and buzzing around trying to find a way out. So keep your windows rolled up as much as possible. If you do find yourself providing a ride to a free loading bee or wasp it is best to pull over when safe to do so and roll your windows down to give it a way out.

8. Rinse garbage receptacles and keep the lids on.

• Wasps love empty soda, juice, and beer bottles and any other food waste in your garbage can. It is best to keep your cans rinsed out to avoid food residue build up. Rinse your garbage cans out now and then, and always put tight-fitting lids on them to keep wasps away from your garbage. This can substantially cut down on the number of wasps hanging around your yard.

9. Avoid hanging out in the flower garden.

• Bees spend most of their time collecting nectar and pollen from flowers. It is best to stay out of their way. If you are really worried about being stung it is a good idea to stay clear where they spend most of their time and stay out of the flower garden or be aware of where they are.

10. If you have bees, wasps, or hornets nests call a professional to have them removed.

• Professional beekeepers or pest control experts can remove wasp or hornet nests or bee swarms safely, without putting you at risk for stings. It is not safe to try and take care of these situations on your own, as it can make these stinging creatures very angry when someone is trying to disturb or destroy their home.

From CRH

---