A lot of people suffer from seasonal allergies. Allergies can vary in type and severity. In addition to common hay fever, many people are also allergic to bee and wasp stings. For these people getting stung can be a matter of life and death.
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Normal Bee Sting Symptoms
No one wants to be stung by a bee or a wasp. Even people who aren’t allergic to bee stings will experience these minor symptoms when stung:
- Itching
- Swelling
- Redness
- Minor Pain
Severe Bee Sting Symptoms
People who are allergic to bee stings will require a doctor’s attention. If you do not know if you are allergic to bee stings, here are some symptoms to watch for:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the eyes, throat, tongue
These are just several of the symptoms of anaphylactic shock. If someone you know exhibits any of these symptoms after being stung by a bee, get them to a doctor or hospital immediately.
DIY Bee Sting Remedies
If you have been stung by a bee but do not require medical attention, then there are some simple DIY remedies that will help take the discomfort from the sting away.
First try to remove the stinger and take some ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help ease the pain and swelling.
An ice pack is one of the easiest way to treat a bee sting. Just hold a small packet of ice on the area of the sting for about 20 minutes. The cold will help ease or numb any pain and/or itching, and the symptoms should disappear in a few hours.
Applying a paste of baking soda and water to the area will also help to neutralize the poison.
Homemade Wasp Trap
If you are going to be outside in an area that is swarming with wasps, for instance when you are camping or picnicing with your family, then consider bringing along the materials to make your own homemade wasp trap.
To make your own wasp trap you will need:
- Two clear plastic drinking cups
- One regular sized water bottle
- Duck tape
- Knife or scissors
- Meat for bait
Making the trap is easy. First use the knife or scissors to cut the bottom out of one of the drinking cups.
Next place the two top ends of the cups together and tape them together with duck tape. You should now have a big enclosed container to trap wasps in, with one end open where you cut the bottom off.
Next cut the top off of the water bottle. Cut below the neck of the bottle, in the widest part of the bottle. Take the neck of the bottle you just cut off and insert it neck down into the hole you just cut out of the drinking cup.
Use duck tape to tape the water bottle neck to the edge of the drinking cup (Note: If you don’t have any cups you can just cut the top off of the water bottle and turn it upside down inside the water bottle, taping it in place.
This works just as well, the cups just give you a bigger area to trap wasps. Use what you have!)
Homemade Wasp Trap Bait
After your trap is complete, you need to bait your trap. You might have to experiment with this. It depends on what kind of wasps you are dealing with.
It also depends on the time of year. If the wasps are attracted to sugar, then place an inch or so of soda like Mountain Dew in the bottom of the cup.
If they are attracted to meat, then place a small amount of raw or cooked meat in the bottom the cup. You can use chicken, hot dog, hamburger, fish, whatever you have. The wasps in the photo were baited with cooked fish.
The wasps go down into the container through the neck of the water bottle to get the meat, and they can’t get out. They will fly around for awhile and eventually die. When they die you can either throw the whole thing away or make a new one and start again.
If you are wondering if wasp traps really work, you have to try this to believe it. This homemade wasp catcher really works! If you have a large area, then place several traps around the perimeter of where you are sitting. It will help keep the wasps at bay while you are visiting and eating with friends and family.
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