Instant sting first aid

[JKJ]

In reading about bee stings in another thread, I wondered if a sting suction device has been mentioned here.  It's called "The Extractor" and instantly takes most of the pain from a sting and prevents most of the swelling.  If you are one of those people who enjoy bee stings, skip to the next message now! :)

The Extractor is a suction device that will pull the venom out of the sting, whether bee, yellowjacket, or even mosquitoe.  I am allergic to yellowjacket stings - one on my hand made my entire arm swell up all the way to my shoulder.   But when I quickly applied suction to other yellowjacket stings I have not had more than a small 2-inch diameter swelling.  My wife once got a very painful sting on her hand and said the suction took the pain away instantly and she had no swelling.  It also removes itching and swelling from mosquitoe bites.  I found it works with ticks and seed ticks as well, darn their microscopic hides.

I keep one of these little suction devices on my tractor, in the car, in the house, in the barn, and in the bee kit.  I give them to friends as presents - great for parents of small children.

I've always bought these at WalMart in the camping section for $11-$12, but if you want to pay more you can get one from Amazon.com: The Extractor  

The kit includes different sizes of suction cups, a razor to remove hair, and some first aid wipes.  It also claims to be good for snake bites, but I haven't tested that!

JKJ

[kensfarm]

The beekeepers I bought my nucs from said try putting a sliced onion on your sting area..  I should've tried it the other day when I got stung behind my left ear.. gave me a headache right away.

[rsilver000]

I really think the best thing to do is remove the stinger as soon as you can.  The faster it is out, the less poison that is pumped into your system.  The mechanical extracter will only delay things a bit.  It is the venom that causes the reaction, no amount of suction is going to get that out of your skin in time to prevent the mast cells in the skin from releasing vasoactive amines and causing a localized reaction.
Rob

[TwT]

my wife is a nurse, stings don't bother me to much but some spots are sensitive so she got this for her and the kids for any stings but I have tried it and it works very well....

http://www.james-alexander.com/products/mcsting.html

[melliphile]

Stings get such a bad rap, don't they?  Most people are probably better off getting stung now and again.    But really, the pain(even with a full dose)lasts no more than 30 seconds.  Then it feels hot and throbby, but it's not really all that painful anymore.  By the time you find , open and administer whatever , the worst is over.  What's all the buzz?  If you're truly allergic, then you should have an epi-pen.  I keep one in my tool box and one at my apiary.  Never had to use them, but everyone around knows how (just in case).

[Michael Bush]

I've tried most everything and nothing comes close to plantain.

http://weeds.cropsci.uiuc.edu/images/Broadleafplantain/images/broadleaf%20plantain.jpg

Crush it and put it on a sting.  It's likely growing in your yard where the dirt id packed from people walking.

If you can't find any platain, my next favortie treatments are (in order of efficacy) tobacco poltice, crushed asprin poltice, baking soda poltice, meat tenderizer poltice, salt poltice.

[joecat]

I always put a drop or 2 of honey on the sting area.

[tillie]

We have something called rattlesnake plantain in north Georgia - wonder if that would have the same effect?

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/wildflowers/goodyera_pubescens.html

Linda T in Atlanta but wishing I were somewhere cooler and/or rainy

[Michael Bush]

It appears to be a different variety of the same plant.  I've never used that variety but I'd guess it would work.

[ctsoth]

I scream like a little girl then I shrug...  Depending on where I get stung I can't feel it, so I don't so much care...

[shado_knight]

A wet teabag works wonders. The tannin in the tea will cause a drying action and soothes the sting area. It can help prevent swelling of the sting area as well. At least it has always worked for me.  :D

[Finsky]

A wide collection of naughty words are very efficient against bee stings up to 5 stings.

Car's rear mirror is often usefull when I try to locate did I got  sting way from my face.

[Jay]

A wide collection of naughty words are very efficient against bee stings up to 5 stings.

I agree Finsky, after 5 though, you must hop up and down while applying the naughty words!! :D