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Be Summer Rescue Ready: Bite & Sting First Aid

19 July 2022

Although most bites and stings are harmless and will only leave mild symptoms such as itching and swelling, it is important to know how to effectively treat bites and stings and how to spot an allergic reaction.

Download our useful A4 info sheet that contains all you need to know about bites and stings at a quick glance.

Download Bite & Sting Info Sheet

How to Protect Yourself from Bites & Stings

Remain Calm: If you encounter a bee, wasp, or hornet moving around, panicking will make them feel as though they're under attack and they will be more likely to sting.
Cover Up: Wear long sleeves clothes and pants to protect exposed skin.
Protect Yourself: Apply a DEET spray 10 minutes before leaving the house for ultimate protection against a variety of insects including mosquitos, ticks, wasps, bees, etc. The Medicare DEET spray comes in 3 different strengths so you can choose a strength that works for you. Check out our blog post on Tick Bite Prevention & Treatment to find out about our DEET Spray and its uses.
Wear Footwear Outdoors: Protect your feet from being bitten/stung especially in grassy areas.
Avoid Wearing Strong Scents: Wearing strong scented perfumes, deodorants, body creams or gels can attract insects so avoid where possible.

How to Treat Bites & Stings

Useful Products for Bite/Sting Relief:

It is a good idea to ice the area after a bite/sting. This will help to bring down swelling, reduce pain and the urge to itch the area. The Medicare Ice Spray provides fast and effective relief to help numb the area and reduce swelling.

The Medicare Reusable Hot/Cold Pack gives quick relief to insect bites/stings. Simply leave the pack in the freezer and use when needed. Ice bite/sting for 10-20 minutes or for as long as needed for cooling relief, then place back in freezer for re-use.

The Medicare Insect Bite & Sting Cream gives relief from a variety of bites and stings including mosquitos, wasps, horseflies - even jellyfish and nettle stings. It helps to ease irritations and itching while promoting quicker healing to the skin. This cream is not advised to use on tick bites. For tick treatment tips, read our Tick Bite and Prevention blog post.

Remember, most bites/stings are harmless, and should clear up within 10 days of treatment. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms after a bite/sting, it is best to seek advice from your pharmacist or GP.

If symptoms persist and show little to no signs of improvement
If you think the bitten/stung area has become infected
If you notice an unusual discolouration of the skin
If you experience pus or increasing pain, swelling or redness in the area
If your symptoms include high temperature and other flu-like symptoms

Seek emergency care by calling 999 if you experience any of the following

A suspected allergic reaction to the sting/bite
An accelerated heart rate
Swelling in the throat, mouth or face
Dizziness/faint feeling
Loss of consciousness

Stock up on all the Medicare Summer Essentials in a pharmacy near you today. For a reminder of all the products you'll need this summer, check out our "Be Rescue Ready: Travel Smart, Travel Safe" blog post.

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