Darrick Robles Not only people enjoy the summer. Wasps, jellyfish and other creatures also prefer to be out and about in warm temperatures. Our SOS tips will help you to protect yourself and your children from annoying stings and bites in the future. You will also learn how you can treat symptoms caused by insect bites or poisonous animals yourself.
This is how you protect yourself from bites and stings
Wear loose clothing and use insect repellent when outdoors. This is especially true near water, tall grass, and wooded areas. If you are in grassy, shady areas, you should also be on the lookout for ticks . Insect repellents with 50% DEET provide protection for up to 12 hours.
If you prefer a milder insect repellent, studies have shown that lemon eucalyptus, citronella, and linalool oils also have repellent properties.
What to do with bites and stings?
Most discomfort and itching from bites and stings is short-lived and does not require medical attention. A cold compress or ice pack should provide adequate relief.
Discourage children from scratching bite wounds as this increases the risk of infection.
If itching persists, adults and children over the age of 10 can use a mild hydrocortisone cream , available at most pharmacies.
For painful bites, you can give paracetamol juice to babies from 6 months and tablets or juice to children from 4 years. Alternatively, you can also give ibuprofen to babies older than 3 months. For children, you should pay close attention to the correct dosage.
For swelling and allergic reactions , you need oral or topical antihistamines.
In these cases you need medical help: If the affected area swells up a lot after the sting, you should go to a doctor’s office. If a rash develops, or if you experience itching, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations, or swelling of your face or mouth , call an ambulance. It could be anaphylactic shock that needs to be treated quickly.
If you’re prone to severe allergic reactions, your doctor may recommend that you carry an emergency kit (antihistamines and auto-injecting adrenaline pen).
mosquitoes
There are more than 3,600 species of mosquitoes worldwide, 104 species are found in Europe. They are particularly common near bodies of water.
SOS tip: Mosquito bites can be very itchy and swollen . Cool the area to relieve itching. Try not to scratch yourself, as this can infect the area. Mosquitoes can also transmit diseases such as dengue fever abroad . Effective mosquito repellent is therefore all the more important.
Bees, wasps and hornets
These buzzing insects are attracted to sugary drinks . So when you are outdoors, avoid drinking from cans and other containers that bees and wasps can fly into. Seal beverage bottles that still contain leftovers as quickly as possible.
SOS tip: After a bee, hornet or wasp sting, you must remove the stinger as soon as possible to relieve the pain. Disinfect the area and scrape it out with a credit card or butter knife. You should n’t use tweezers with these particular stings , as they could spread the venom.
Wash the area and elevate it if possible to reduce swelling. You can also press something cool on the sting to reduce swelling.
Some people are allergic to bee and wasp stings (insect venom allergy). search at
- breathing difficulties
- heart palpitations ,
- drowsiness,
- nausea or
- dizziness
see a doctor immediately .
caterpillars
In May and June, the caterpillars of the oak processionary moth , which is found throughout Germany, are covered with poisonous hairs. These can easily penetrate the skin when touched, causing hives or an itchy rash . When inhaled, the hairs can cause a sore throat , bronchitis and asthma .
SOS tip: Rinse the affected area with water and apply an antihistamine (for children over 2 years old). If you or your child has asthma, you should always carry an inhaler with you. Oral antihistamines help against throat and eye irritation.
What about
Cercaria are 1 millimeter small larvae of worms that are more common in bathing water when the temperature is warm. They can penetrate the skin a few millimeters deep and trigger swimmer ‘s rash.
Typical symptoms are red, itchy spots on the skin – similar to mosquito bites. Symptoms usually go away on their own after 1 to 3 weeks. In rare cases, cercaria can cause allergic reactions with dizziness, fever or shock. Children are more at risk because the worm larvae tend to live in shallow water.
SOS tip: Cool the affected areas with a compress or aloe vera gel from the fridge to soothe the skin and relieve itching. Prevent swimmer’s dermatitis by avoiding prolonged bathing in shallow water, using waterproof sunscreen, and removing wet swimwear after bathing.
jellyfish
Various types of jellyfish can be found in the North and Baltic Seas, in the English Channel and in the Atlantic. The most venomous jellyfish is the yellow hair jellyfish, also known as the stinging jellyfish . It has been found off the coasts of France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and the UK.
SOS tip: If you have been stung by a jellyfish, you should remove the remains of the tentacle, for example with tweezers. Rinse the area with seawater, but never fresh water or alcohol , as this can activate the stinging cells. Soak the area in the hottest water possible for at least 30 minutes. If necessary, take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the pain.
See a doctor if you have severe pain that doesn’t improve after about an hour, or if you’ve been stung on your face or genitals.
snakes
The adder can be found in Germany, central and northern Europe. It grows up to 90 cm long, is light to dark brown in color and usually has a zigzag pattern on its back.
SOS Tips: While most bites are harmless, they require medical attention, so you should see a doctor as soon as possible .
Especially at
- breathing difficulties
- chest pain,
- seizures,
- severe swelling,
- vomiting and/or
- drowsiness
quick medical help is important.
