Are Wasps Dangerous? Understanding Stings and Nest Disturbance in Bunny
Knowing what to do in the first few minutes after a sting helps you stay calm, treat it properly and spot the signs that mean you need more help than a cold pack.
The first minute matters most
If a wasp has stung you, the first job is to get away from the spot. Wasps can sting more than once, and if the sting was near a nest there may be others close by. Walk away steadily, go indoors if possible and shut the door behind you. Only then think about the sting itself.
What follows is general first-aid information and not medical advice. If you are worried, speak to a pharmacist, your GP or NHS advice services.
If you are with a child, the same order applies. Pick them up if you can, move away together and then look them over. Children often cannot say where it hurts, so check hands, face, neck and feet, since those are the places most often stung. A gentle, unhurried tone helps them settle.
Treating the sting
For an ordinary sting on an adult or older child, these steps are usually enough.
- Check the skin for a sting. Wasps do not normally leave one, but if you can see it, scrape it out with a fingernail or the edge of a card.
- Wash the area gently with soap and cool water.
- Hold a cold pack, or ice wrapped in a cloth, on the area for a short while to ease pain and swelling.
- Raise the limb if it has been stung on an arm, hand, leg or foot.
- Take off rings, watches or tight bracelets near the sting before swelling sets in.
- Do not scratch. Scratching can break the skin and lead to infection.
A pharmacist can suggest things to ease itch and discomfort. Follow their guidance and the instructions on any product, because it is not something to improvise.
For a sting on the hand or foot, remove rings or shoes early, since swelling can make them hard to take off later. If the sting is on the face or near the eye, or inside the mouth, do not wait. Get medical advice promptly, and call 999 if there is any swelling around the lips, tongue or throat or difficulty breathing.
What to expect over the next day or two
Most people feel sharp pain at first, which fades within a short time. Redness, a raised bump and itch can last a day or two, and the area may be a little swollen and tender. Some people have a larger local reaction, with swelling that spreads and peaks after a day or so. This is unpleasant but is not the same as an allergic reaction.
See a doctor or pharmacist if the redness spreads and the area becomes hot, increasingly painful or starts to weep, or if you feel generally unwell with fever. Those can be signs of infection, which is not part of a normal sting reaction.
Keep an eye on how you feel in the hours after the sting. Mild headache or feeling a little shaky is common after a fright, but anything that worsens, or feels different from a normal sting, deserves a call to NHS advice services. It is always acceptable to ask, and nobody will mind.
Signs that need 999
A serious allergic reaction usually begins quickly, within minutes, though it can sometimes take a little longer. Call 999 immediately if you notice any of the following:
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat;
- wheezing, noisy breathing or difficulty breathing;
- dizziness, faintness or collapse;
- a widespread rash or hives away from the sting;
- a feeling of sudden panic or confusion, or a child going pale and floppy.
Stay with the person, keep them calm and sitting or lying as comfortable, and follow the call handler's instructions. If they carry medication prescribed for allergic reactions, it should be used as their doctor has taught them. People with a known allergy should discuss a plan with their GP in advance.
Remember that you can reach 999 from a mobile even with no signal from your own network, and that giving the exact location as early as possible saves time.
Why repeat stings happen
A single sting is often an isolated event, but a second or third one often points to a nest. If you were stung in the same spot of the garden, near a wall, a bush or the ground, the chances are good that wasps are nesting nearby. Anywhere, including Bunny, a nest can be well hidden until someone walks into the flight path.
Wasps begin building from late April depending on the weather, and by August a colony can hold 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. Go back to the spot only from a good distance, and look for wasps flying in and out of the same gap or hole. If you see them, keep everyone away and treat it as a nest.
Think about whether the sting happened at a predictable spot, such as beside a shed or along a hedge. Mark that place in your mind, or put something visible well clear of it, and tell the rest of the household not to go there.
Getting the nest removed
Our fixed price is £95 per nest, with £35 for any additional nest on the same property. There is no call-out charge, the price is confirmed on the phone before the visit, and nothing is done without your agreement. Technicians are trained and fully insured, and we deal with domestic and commercial properties seven days a week, with same-day service offered.
Bookings can be made on 0116 214 9259 or via the contact page form. If anyone is allergic to wasp stings, tell us when you book. Ask, too, whether the empty nest can be taken down once the treatment has been carried out.
Wasps on your property in Bunny?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.