How to Treat a Yellow Jacket Sting in Someone Who Is Allergic

Yellow jacket stings are painful and inconvenient for most people, but they are particularly dangerous in individuals who are allergic to them. Here's how to treat a yellow jacket sting in someone who is allergic.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Remove the stinger left behind by the yellow jacket. Use the edge of a credit card to scrape the stinger away rather than tweezers, which can break the stinger and push the hornet's venom deeper into the sting site.

2. Seek medical attention immediately. Call a doctor or emergency room to let them know that you will be coming in.

3. Administer an EpiPen injection to help prevent anaphylaxis, if the person has an EpiPen because of past experiences with an allergic reaction to an insect sting.

4. Clean the area of the sting with soap and water, if you're not sure whether the person is allergic to a yellow jacket sting. Then look for signs of a severe allergic reaction (such as itching hives in areas other than the site of the sting; swelling of the face, throat or tongue; dizziness; difficulty breathing; and loss of consciousness). If you suspect that the person who has been stung is allergic but has not been diagnosed, administer an oral antihistamine and get to the doctor as soon as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• An oral antihistamine is not enough to prevent anaphylaxis. If someone has been stung and is struggling to breathe, get to a doctor or emergency room immediately.

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[hamhock]

on 8/16/2008 First of all this information is incorrect. Yellow Jackets do not have stingers.