It’s springtime in San Diego. Flowers are blooming and bees are buzzing. Whether you are at the beach, a park, or out in the garden, it’s a safe bet that you may come into contact with a honeybee.  Springtime is also swarming season. It’s the time of year when bee stings are fairly common. Getting stung by a bee is no fun. Many people fear bees because getting stung hurts and often causes irritation.

For most people a single bee sting is not deadly. Only a small percentage of the human population are allergic enough to be hospitalized by one bee sting alone.

So what should you do if you get stung by a bee? Knowing how to properly treat a sting is important to ensuring a speedy recovery. Following the tips below should help you get back on your feet quickly, after suffering a bee sting.

 1. Remove the stinger as quickly as possible. You may not know this, but after the bee has stung you, the stinger continues to pump and pulsate the venom out through the stinger. It sounds crazy but it’s true! Take a look at this clip of what a stinger does after being separated from the bee. The longer you wait before removing the stinger, the more the venom will likely permeate into your body.


Video by Mahako Bees

2. Do not pinch the stinger. It’s a common mistake for people to pinch or squeeze the top of the stinger in order to pull it out. Squeezing the stinger actually pushed the venom in the sac directly into your skin. Instead of pinching and pulling, try the 3rd tip below.

3. Scrape the stinger out with a thin fingernail or straight edge. Some people like to use the edge of a credit card. Others swear by the fingernail method. Check out this video to see a demonstration of how to remove a stinger properly.


Video by Jason Chrisman

The final thing to remember about getting stung by a bee is not to panic. The worst thing you can do if you encounter bees is to swat and smash them. If you smash or kill a bee it will likely release an alarm pheromone which signals other bees in the colony that there is a threat. Alarm pheromones often trigger bee attacks.

Ever been stung by a bee? Know of a better way to remove a stinger? Share your knowledge below.