What to do for a bee sting; The Sun 14 January.
It is good to see sound advice given, but in this case 'The speed of removal is more important than the method” of removing a bee's sting could make it worse.
Yes, removing it quickly is important, but as anyone who has kept bees will tell you, pinching the sting to pull it out will squirt the poison in. And this is the most common instinctive reaction.
The quickest and safest way to remove a bee sting is to scrape your thumb nail along the skin, scraping the sting away with you.
Was it a bee or wasp that stung? A wasp can sting multiple times and does not leave its sting behind. A bee stings once, leaves the sting behind, and dies.
Unless you have a severe reaction, apply a pack of moistened bicarbonate of soda for relief from a bee sting. If it is a wasp sting, use a dilute solution of vinegar. Apply regularly until the stinging lessens.
This remedy is easy enough to remember: Bicarb for Bees, Vinegar for Wasps. This stood me in good stead keeping bees and raising a family.
J Anderson, Otumoetai.