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How To Deal With Yellow Jacket Stings

Yellow jackets are a wasp subspecies and they have a thin body with black and yellow coloration. They are often found buzzing around parks, gardens, and backyards, and they are known for their painful stings, which can inject venom multiple times into their targets. The pain of the sting is sudden, and the venom can lead to inflammation and redness at the area of the sting. Some people may also experience other symptoms such as fatigue and itching at the injection site.

Symptoms that indicate a dangerous reaction

While most wasp stings are not life-threatening, the venom can cause an allergic reaction, in which case, immediate medical attention is required. Symptoms that indicate a dangerous reaction include:

• Coughing and wheezing
• Problems swallowing and breathing
• Tightness in the throat
• Breaking out in hives
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Passing out
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you or someone you know is exhibiting these symptoms, you will have to call 911 immediately. You should also try to administer epinephrine if it’s available, and place the affected person on their back. Raise their feet about 12 inches from the ground, or, if they are vomiting, turn them on their side. Do not give them anything to drink, or oral medications, and avoid lifting their head, if they are having problems with breathing. In some cases, CPR may be required.

Treatment

You can reduce some of the symptoms of a regular sting by placing an ice pack or a cold pack on the location of the sting. Vinegar will also work, or, if you have some baking soda, you can mix it with water to create a paste. Yellow jacket venom is acidic, and baking soda will neutralize it. If you or someone you know is allergic to wasp venom, make sure to carry an Epi-Pen with you when you go out during the summer.

Prevention

One of the ways you can avoid yellow jacket and wasp stings in general is to avoid these insects as much as possible. If there are wasps on your property, then you can remove them with the help of a pro. A pro will identify the location of the wasp nest and destroy it, which will mean that you can eat and spend time outdoors without having to worry about a sting. Contact us today if you have a yellow jacket infestation on your property, and we will remove it for you.