Five ways to deal with bee stings

1. Keep calm Bee and wasp stings are painful but rarely harmful. It’s the shock that upsets children.

2. Hold it high Raise the affected part of the body and apply an ice pack to reduce swelling. Seek medical advice if symptoms persist.

3. Find the sting  If visible, scrape the sting off the skin sideways with your fingernails (only bees leave a sting behind, not wasps). Never use tweezers as you may inject  more of the poison into the wound and cause more pain.

4. Take emergency action For a sting to the throat or mouth, act quickly as the swelling could block the airway. Give your child an ice cube to suck or a cold glass of water to drink. Call the emergency services at once if you notice difficulty breathing or any swelling to the face or neck.

5. Prevent another sting Avoid using soaps with strong perfumes and watch out with lollies and ice creams, they all attract insects. Wear shoes outdoors.