Bear Grylls: The Sting

[T-oddity]

I keep a few bees and have been stung a number of times, the reaction can vary depending on many factors,
The stings tend to be more potent in spring and early summer when colonies are growing, whilst later in the year or if the bee is near to the end of its life span the sting is less so.
As far as bee stings are concerned the bee leaves the sting and venom sack behind to continue pumping venom into you, so this needs to be removed as quick as possible, scrape out with a blunt edge such as the edge of a credit card or a finger nail.
Wasps and hornets retain their sting and can sting multiple times, the venom can be sucked out if done quickly, I have a venom kit with suction pump for this purpose.
The worst reaction I have had was this last spring when I was stung on the hand when working on one of my hives, I did nothing about it until I had finished what I was doing, my arm ballooned like you would not believe to the amusement of friend and family
Did the arthritis in my elbow the world of good though.
If you wish to build up your immunity to bee stings you can, by having about 50+ stings a year
There are a few remedies out there for helping to reduce the itch of the sting but they wont stop the swelling much.
As far Bear Grylls is concerned I've got not time for him he's just a right pratt.

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Christ NR you were lucky to survive that, an attack that severe is often fatal

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(29 October 2012, 16:23)NorthernRaider Wrote: I fell onto a wasps nest as a child, got stung over 500 times according to my medical records, I dont remember much about it cept the agony and trying to fend the bastards off, A woman saw what was going on and pulled me into her house and she plunged me into a bath full of water to drown the bastards, her hubby had to tape up her front door lettterbox and keyhole cos the wasps were still trying to get in at me. They both got stung dozens of times, I was stung all over (I was wearing only shorts and a t shirt) in my mouth, in my nose and ears, my eyes were stung as was my tongue, dozens in my scalp, all over my body, my groin area, legs, only the soles of my feet didnt get stung.

I was in hospital for weeks, most of the time fortunately in a coma, I dont like wasps, i make it my mission to kill them at every opportunity.

Christ you were lucky to survive, an attack like that can often be fatal