Читать книгу Beekeeping For Dummies - Howland Blackiston - Страница 80

Be prepared to answer the following question from everyone who hears you’re a beekeeper: “Do you ever get stung?” You’ll hear this a hundred times. An occasional sting is a fact of life for a beekeeper. Following the rules of the road, however, keeps stings to a minimum, or perhaps you’ll get none at all. Yet, if a bee stings you or your clothing, calmly remove the stinger and smoke the area to mask the chemical alarm scent left behind. (This alarm pheromone can stimulate other bees to sting.) To remove the stinger, you can use your fingernail to scrape or pinch it off your skin.

If you are stung, apply a cold compress and take an antihistamine tablet (such as Benadryl). Antihistamine creams also are available. Some work better than others. Find one you like. Using this technique reduces the swelling, itching, and discomfort.

Some old-timers swear by the effectiveness of baking-soda-and-water poultices for bee stings; other folks advocate meat tenderizer and wet tobacco poultices, respectively. These are “grandma recipes” that were used before we had the antidote that the medical profession endorses — over-the-counter antihistamines.