Avoiding and Treating Yellowjacket Stings
Children should be taught to stay calm when confronted with a foraging yellowjacket. Impress upon them that quick, jerky motions will frighten wasps and make them more likely to sting. Stillness, or slow, gentle movements, will greatly decrease the possibility of being stung. Slowly and carefully brushing off a yellowjacket that has landed on someone, or waiting until it flies off is better than hitting or constraining it. It is important to avoid smashing yellowjackets because when crushed, they give off an alram pheromone that can cause other yellowjackets to attack.
If soft drinks or fruit juices are being consumed on school grounds where there are many yellowjackets, warn the children to look into the cup or can before each sip. This will prevent someone from accidentally drinking in a wasp and get stung in the mouth or throat. Tell them not to panic if they find a wasp taking a drink. Ideally, all sweet drinks should be in containers with secured lids and the children can use a straw for drinking. It may become neccessary to prohibit eating and drinking outside during the peak of the yellowjacket season.
First Aid for Stings
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If the sting is to the throat or mouth, medical attention must be sought immediately, because swelling in these areas can cause suffocation. Dial 911 immediately and apply ice to the sting.
For hypersensitive individuals
- Anyone who is hypersensitive or is showing respiratory reactions, dizziness, or color changes should be treated by the school nurse and taken to a hospital emergency room immediately. The nurse should have an emergency kit containing pre-loaded syringes of epinephrine for use with hypersensitive individuals. An antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (e.g., Benadryl) can stop or slow symptoms, but it must be given immediately.
- Keep the affected portion of the body below the level of the victim's heart.
For all others
- Wash the area around the sting with soap and water and apply an antiseptic. Washing can help remove the protein venom from the wound which will help reduce the pain and swelling from the sting.
- As soon as possible, treat the sting either with ice contained in a cloth or plastic bag, commercially available products for easing the pain of wasp or bee stings, or a paste of meat tenderizer mixed with water. Ice will help reduce the swelling, while the commercial products will relieve both pain and swelling. Meat tenderizer serves to break down the protein venom, thus reducing swelling and pain.
- Antihistamines given every few hours, according to label directions, will also prevent pain and swelling.
- Have the victim rest, and do not administer sedatives.
Return to IPM for Yellowjackets and Hornets in Schools