Bees, wasps, hornets etc. all have the ability to sting which can cause intense pain and swelling. There are some actions you can take to quickly ease the discomfort.
Remove the stinger
Using a scraping motion - with a credit card, the back of a knife or even your finger nail - gently remove the stinger.
Try not to squeeze the venom sac attached to it because that would release more venom.
Ice the pain
An ice compress applied to the sting relieves pain and swelling almost immediately.
Use once every 2 hours during the first day you've been stung. Ice also stops the spread of venom.
Raise your leg
If you are stung on your leg, elevate the leg for about 30 minutes after you have removed the stinger.
Apply gentle heat
If you're still swollen after the first day of ice treatment try placing a warm compress or heating pad on the sting as often as possible for one day.
Take aspirin or ibuprofen
Start with two aspirin or one ibuprofen tablet every 4 hours and continue as needed, always following the directions on the bottle.
Antihistamines
If you have itching near the sting an oral antihistamine taken every 4 to 6 hours can help ease the discomfort.
Apply calamine
Apply calamine as needed to quickly help soothe the affected area.