North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Joe Hecksel" <jhecksel@voyager.net>]

> At 07:11 PM 8/18/2003 -0400, you wrote:
> >What is the best after care for a sting?
> 
Disclaimer:  I have no medical training.  I am not making 
recommendations.  I am merely reporting what I do when stung by bees 
and yellow jackets.

I pull the stinger and cover the welt with a baking soda paste.  I take 
an oral O-T-C antihistamine tablet or decongestant-antihistamine 
combo.  I scrape off the paste after 10 or 15 minutes and wash with 
soap and water.  Then I rub in some 1% hydrocortisone cream, which is 
also available over-the-counter.  When possible, I just kind of hang 
out in the house near the phone for about a half hour....just in case.

I really dislike yellow jackets.  I read that they "mark" you with a 
pheremone that acts like a homing beacon for other attacking yellow 
jackets.

-- 
Joe Hecksel
Personal Webpage http://my.voyager.net/~jhecksel