It's that time of year again...

It's that time of year again, where the fields are abuzz with new life.  Some of which we like, some we don't.  There are new calves at play, baby Killdeer birds running on stilted legs, gardens bursting forth with future sustenance, wildflowers everywhere and, of course, the ever present droning of the...wasps?!

Yes, wasps. Everywhere. And with the wasps comes the potential stinging, of which we've already had our fair share.  So for this blog, I thought I'd share a little about the do's and don'ts of stings.

THE DON'TS:

The thing NOT TO DO, is ignore it.  If it is ignored and you are even slightly allergic, this can cause major problems and can be potentially dangerous.  (See Pictures below)  Greg USUALLY has almost no reaction to bee or wasps stings; the pain lasting only a few minutes.  However, this time, as you can see from the pictures, was different!  He was stung on the wrist and within a few hours his entire arm had doubled in size.  This swelling, tightness and unbearable itch lasted for 5 days!  And we have been told, that the next time he is stung, it could be worse.  Let's hope he doesn't get stung on the neck!

THE DO'S:

The thing to DO, is treat it immediatly.  There are many remedies and natural treatments available.  The old-fashioned remedy we used growing up was snuff, but since there aren't too many people around these days who use snuff, it can be hard to come by.  Another option I read about was WD40; I would think this could be a little messy.  Another blog I read said to try rubbing a freshly cut onion on it; this will make your eyes water and is a little smelly.  So, when my daughter was stung a few days after her father, we decided to go with an easier, more natural sort of treatment.  Vinegar (we used raw apple cider vinegar) and soaked tea bags (we used green tea).  We first rubbed it with a rag soaked in the vinegar and then applied the wet tea bag for about 20 minutes.  It took the sting out immediately and there was absolutely no swelling.  (See picture)  (This apparently works because the venom is acidic and is neutralized by the alkaline vinegar.)

Now...it IS possible that some of you may have no adverse reactions to stings and will not need to treat it in any way.  But, by the time you are aware of how your body is going to react, it is too late to treat it.  So I say..."Better safe than sorry"!