Which of the following best describes the care for a bee sting?

Which of the following best describes the care for a bee sting?

• A. Remove the stinger with fingers
• B. Scrape the stinger from the skin and cover the area with a cold pack wrapped in a thin towel
• C. Apply ice directly to the sting area
• D. Use ointment to soothe the sting

Answer: (B)

The best description of the care for a bee sting involves scraping the stinger from the skin and then covering the area with a cold pack wrapped in a thin towel. When a bee stings, it can leave behind its stinger, which continues to release venom into the skin. Removing the stinger promptly is essential to reduce the amount of venom introduced into the body. Scraping with a flat surface, like a credit card, is recommended because it can effectively dislodge the stinger without squeezing the venom sac that is often attached. Once the stinger has been removed, applying a cold pack helps to alleviate swelling and pain by numbing the area and constricting blood vessels. Wrapping the cold pack in a thin towel helps protect the skin from direct contact with ice, which could cause frostbite. Other methods, such as applying ice directly to the sting area, might not provide the same protective barrier and risk damage to the skin. Using ointments may help soothe the irritation but doesn't address the removal of the stinger itself, which is a critical first step.

The best description of the care for a bee sting involves scraping the stinger from the skin and then covering the area with a cold pack wrapped in a thin towel. When a bee stings, it can leave behind its stinger, which continues to release venom into the skin. Removing the stinger promptly is essential to reduce the amount of venom introduced into the body.

Scraping with a flat surface, like a credit card, is recommended because it can effectively dislodge the stinger without squeezing the venom sac that is often attached. Once the stinger has been removed, applying a cold pack helps to alleviate swelling and pain by numbing the area and constricting blood vessels. Wrapping the cold pack in a thin towel helps protect the skin from direct contact with ice, which could cause frostbite.

Other methods, such as applying ice directly to the sting area, might not provide the same protective barrier and risk damage to the skin. Using ointments may help soothe the irritation but doesn't address the removal of the stinger itself, which is a critical first step.