Bee stings are of course a common outdoor nuisance. Outdoor workers are at most risk of being stung on the job, but all workers become targets in the warmer months. In most cases, insect stings are simply annoying, and home treatment is all that’s necessary to ease the pain. But if you’re allergic to bee stings, get stung numerous times or are stung somewhere with strong blood supply, you may have a more serious reaction that requires emergency treatment.
In the U.S., about 40 deaths are reported each year from insect venom anaphylaxis. The site of the sting is a factor in the severity of the reaction. Areas of the body where the skin is thin with a strong blood supply, especially the face and mouth, are more likely to swell, which can compromise the airway.