How should a bee sting be treated?

If a bee has left its stinger in the skin, remove it (this may require tweezers). If the person who was stung has a bee allergy, he or she may suffer from anaphylactic shock and will have to be treated with an epi-pen (which hopefully they carry as a precaution). Otherwise, it's not that serious.

Obviously a person will not be aware that they have a severe allergic reaction (i.e. anaphylaxis) to a sting until they are stung for the first time - so they will not have an epipen. Symptoms are any or all of: difficulty breathing, increased pulse rate, face flushed &/or swelling, nausea.

If you suspect anaphylaxis then do not hang around wondering whether it will pass: phone for an ambulance immediately and tell the despatcher the problem.

Meantime keeping the patient's airway open is critical. As long as they are able to breathe, lay the patient down with their legs raised 45 degrees - as for any case of shock.