Be Prepared for Bee Season this Summer

As the spring season is slowly passing to make way for the summer, you might be excited about the prospect of staying outdoors. Perhaps you might even have some hiking activities planned out with friends and family.

However, you could be a little concerned about it being bee season, too. This is particularly problematic if you’re allergic to bee venom. And even if you’re not allergic, bee stings are unpleasant for everyone.

So, to ensure you’re adequately prepared for bee season this summer, consider the following tips:

Main Contents

bee, bee sting, mediband, medical alert bracelet, medical id, summer, summer season, spring season, bees, honey, bees sting

What to do to prevent bee stings?

1. Wear light-coloured clothing outdoors

Stick to wearing light-coloured clothes (including your face mask), like tan, white or camel, when going outside. These colours are especially preferable if you plan to go hiking or are going where there is a likelihood of encountering bees.

Honeybees, in particular, recognise threats in the wild by their dark-coloured fur. You should also avoid wearing red clothes as bees can't see red and see it as black.

As much as possible, wear long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks, especially if you’ll be outside for hours.

2. Do not disturb bee nest

do not disturb bee nest

Whether it’s bees, wasps or some other insect or animal, never interfere with their nests. This can provoke the kind of reaction you want to avoid as they will see you as a predator. In case you notice bees hovering near a tree, hole or crevice, do not disturb them. Always assume that there’s a nest and get away as quickly as you can.

But if you accidentally stumble into a nest, run as quickly as you can. Head toward an enclosed area or vehicle. If there is none in sight, run as far as you can go until they give up and stop following you. Cover yourself with a bandanna or any type of clothing without obstructing your view as you run.

Do not head toward a body of water such as a stream, river or lake. They will wait for you to surface when you gasp for air and then will start stinging.

3. Do not try to swat stinging insects

If a bee or any other type of stinger is close by or flies into you, do not try to swat it. Their aggressive behaviour is actually a warning sign that you should just leave the area. If you also appear aggressive, more of them will follow — provoked bees to release a certain chemical that signals other bees to attack.

4. Avoid wearing perfume, cologne, etc.

avoid wearing perfume

Stingers can get irritated or attracted by the smell of perfume, cologne, shampoo, conditioner, aftershave and lotion. So, avoid wearing anything with a strong or lingering scent if you’ll spend time outdoors.

Also, the scent of food and drinks can attract insects, including bees. So make sure you cover food and drink containers when there are leftovers.

What to do if you get bee stung?

In the unfortunate event that you get stung even after taking the above precautions, follow the steps below:

  • Remember to stay calm and breathe deeply, slowly.
  • Remove the stinger as quickly as possible.
  • Ice the affected area to reduce pain and inflammation.
  • Apply anti-itch cream like calamine lotion.
  • Take oral antihistamines if you have any on hand.

Although infections from bee stings are rare, be on the lookout for signs of bacterial infection, like fever, redness and swelling in the affected area. See a doctor if you suspect an infection.

bee, bee sting, mediband, medical alert bracelet, medical id, summer, summer season, spring season, bees, honey, bees stingIf you know you’re allergic to bee stings, always carry your personal first aid kit when going out. It should include an Epi-Pen or two, as well as an antihistamine lotion or cream.

Always wear a medical alert bracelet, such as the Mediband Bee Sting Allergy Bracelet. This will ensure you'll receive the medical attention you need during an emergency.