BEE STINGS 101: Tips For Avoiding & Treating Bee Stings For New Beekeepers

Many people love bees and understand their value, but as soon as one comes buzzing by, their heart races, their arms start flailing and they run away. In this video, you'll learn why bees sting, how to avoid getting stung and what to do when you're stung so it doesn't swell up and itch for days!
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Why Bees Sting
Bees usually sting for two reasons - to defend themselves and to defend their hive.
How to prevent getting stung by a bee
When out and about, if you see a bee, leave her alone.
Don’t swat, don’t freak out, don’t run, don’t start breathing heavily. Stay calm, and stay still. If she’s in your face, put your hands over your eyes, nose and mouth and wait for her to go away. You can also walk slowly and calmly into the shade or through tall grass. You should not have to walk more than 50 feet away to get a non Africanized honey bee to leave you alone.
Most people are somewhat allergic to bee venom and swell up after getting stung. This is normal. However some people are highly allergic and those people need to carry an epi pen with them always and should not be a beekeeper.
Signs you’re highly allergic and may go into anaphylactic shock:
Swelling in areas other than where you’re stung
Heart palpitations
Swelling of the face
Skin reactions such as hives, flushed skin, or paleness
Suddenly feeling too warm
Feeling like you have a lump in your throat or difficulty swallowing
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Abdominal pain
A weak and rapid pulse
Runny nose and sneezing
Swollen tongue or lips
Wheezing or difficulty breathing
A sense that something is wrong with your body
Tingling hands, feet, mouth, or scalp
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[@thomasrape4616]

Last year I found a beard product that I absolutely love, does great on my beard and I love the smell. First time I worked bees with this stuff in my beard the bees covered my vail to the point I couldn't see out. The next time I made sure not to have it on and had no issue. Another day I put some on a rag and hung it on a bush near my hives while I opened a hive, they covered that rag.

[@BeekeepingMadeSimple]

Wow! That must have been scary.

[@JR-kk6ce]

I keep bees in Florida and this is my weird experience. I can open the hive, change the feeder, etc. without smoke and not get stung if I wear no shirt, no veil, no gloves, and wear just shorts. If I wear clothing such as a shirt, they become agressive. To turn an aggressive hive docile, I put a couple of blue and purple (must have purple) pin wheel wind whirly thing. It takes about the three weeks, but they get accustomed to the constant movement and become docile. Sometimes it can't be helped like when I place Oxalic acid strips for mites in the hive. The first week they really angry.

[@VEE-rd7cu]

Thank you so much. I am on the mainland & the bees are following me, very aggressively. I was stung as a child & swelled up like an elephant so, I am definitely, anxious when they are around. I totally, respeak their space & what they do for our environment. Because I understand their worth, I do not want to be afraid. I will try to relax and remove myself with ease. Mahalo nui, I miss Hawaii so...much; bees never followed me in Hawaii (?)

[@NolaSpiersMitchell-gu5iu]

Thanks for sharing

[@defend223]

You are great at doing this! Thanks for the info

[@grantcalloway571]

In Puerto Rico when i was a child, we used to pee on the dirt floor. Then you pick up that wet dirt with pee and rub it on the sting area. Gone within hours. No swelling no pain.

[@Searchingforthelight423]

Thanks!

[@michaelduncan2759]

You usually have a few seconds to remove the stinger before the venom is pumped in. I will scrape the opposite way the stinger goes in, and scrape it out, then if I do get stung, I immediately put ice on the sting site to slow down delivery of the venom. If you keep it on long enough the reaction is significantly decreased.

[@christynm.8933]

Thanks SO MUCH for the tip!! 😁👏👍❤️ I'm going to try that the next time I get stung.

[@TheSIeepyhouse]

If I'm in a hive box and get stung, I eat some of the honey in the box as I work. I don't swell as bad if I eat a bit, it seems.

[@lynngramm8147]

Good info, thanks so much

[@BeekeepingMadeSimple]

Glad it was helpful!

[@freedbravo]

Easy to rollow and thurough. Second year beekeeper. Over wintered 3 out of 3.

[@curiouscoy492]

Oh, I dread the sting. The only bright side I can imagine is possible benefit of reducing arthritic inflammation. (I think it a scientific fact and not a wives' tale.). Good tips. Thank you.

[@radiorebel8223]

One of my problems it that I have thick curly hair, and the bees could get caught in it if I’m not careful, so I have to make sure to tuck back my hair before getting to close to my hive.

[@BeekeepingMadeSimple]

LOL My former boss had the same problem! I get bees caught in my hair once in awhile. Sometimes I get stung in the head and sometimes they get out. It's hard not to freak out when you feel buzzing in your hair.

[@RobinPoe]

I remember when I got stung by a bee when I was a kid, the baking soda would come out of the cupboard.

[@gmwell1]

Does electrical current Work with bees the same way it works with insects and snake bites?

[@mikemcgilvray8558]

Hive tool works to get the stinger out

[@mikemcgilvray8558]

I seen African bees in kansas

[@NolaSpiersMitchell-gu5iu]

I put savlong on it takes the sting out of it

[@christinasmith9400]

water and meat tenderizer paste

[@ericpattersonk8eep953]

Use a hive tool to get it out

[@jamielandry9856]

Hurts for a few minutes?.... :( I wish!!!! I'm swollen for a whole week when I get stung 😢

[@BeekeepingMadeSimple]

I guess it depends on what you consider hurting. LOL I have been known to be very nonchalant when it comes to getting stung. It. happens after 12 years of keeping bees. There’s the immediate pain of that tiny sharp stinger stabbing you. That's what I'm referring to as "the pain". That subsides after a few minutes. The faster you get it out the better. For most people, there will be swelling for a few hours up to a few days. I used to swell up really bad. So bad that I would be limping after 2 stings in my knee and couldn't crack an egg after 3 stings in my hand, but I wouldn't describe the swelling as pain. It's more so itchy and uncomfortable.

[@NolaSpiersMitchell-gu5iu]

They hit the head to say go away

[@kalingergov106]

you are so cute ... i cannot stop listening to you.. maybe bees can feeel your charisma and thats why dey dont sting you :)

[@BeekeepingMadeSimple]

Thanks! They hated me when I was pregnant, but normally they don't sting me too much :)

[@DLPfan-km8dc]

My mom got stung before she didn't do nothing she stay calm and still got stung

[@dickst.george8023]

Plantain works great leaned from a native self described witch healer when took a drink of soda and got stung in mouth have used for almost 40 years now