How to Treat a Hornet Sting

Ouch! Hornet stings can really hurt! If you or someone you know gets stung by a hornet, treating the site of the sting immediately is crucial to alleviate pain. Luckily, treating a hornet sting is not difficult to do.

Things You'll Need

• Topical antihistamine
• A washcloth
• Oral medication (optional)
• A plastic sandwich bag
• Ice
• A dull knife

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Instructions

• 1

  Remove the stinger using a dull knife if necessary. This can be done by scraping in the opposite direction from the stinger entry.

• 2

  Put ice into a plastic sandwich bag, wrap with a washcloth and apply to the wound.

• 3

  Check sting after 15 minutes to make sure it is not swelling abnormally.

• 4

  Dry the area and apply a topical antihistamine to reduce the pain.

• 5

  Reapply the antihistamine as necessary.

• 6

  Take an oral medication, like ibuprofen, to reduce the venom's effects on your body if needed.