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Bees
will only use their 'sting' in defence of themselves of
their hive. However being stung by a
bee in Portugal
can be very painful and those who have never been stung
by a bee, there is the added worry of how you will
react. A portion of the population do react badly to bee
stings, which can cause anaphylactic shock in some.
However
the most important thing is not to panic. Walk, don't
run away from the area where you were stung. Bees don't
attack without provocation and the dying bee will give
off pheromones which anger bees. Any sudden movement
such as running could trigger an attack by other bees in
the vicinity.
Then at
a safe distance remove the sting. Don't pull it out by
gripping it with your fingers as this could release
venom sacs which are still attached to the sting. Slide
the back of a knife, or flat straight object along the
skin to 'scrape' it out.
The
sooner the Bee's sting is removed the less venom will be
injected into your system. The area around the sting may
be inflamed for a day or two, but 10 minutes after the
removal of the sting the pain should subside.
People
who are not allergic to bee stings will experience
soreness and red swelling around the sting for up to a
week. Someone who experiences a more serious reaction to
a bee sting, should be taken immediately to hospital for
treatment by professionals. Anaphylactic reactions to
bee stings will materialise within minutes of the sting. |
