Are Wasps Dangerous? Understanding Stings and Nest Disturbance in Harvel
A single sting is usually a small problem, but dozens at once can make anyone ill, so knowing how to get clear and when to call for help matters.
One sting is not the same as many
The advice you read about washing and cooling a sting is written with one sting in mind. A mass attack is a different matter. When a colony is disturbed, a person can be stung a large number of times in a few seconds, and each sting adds to the load on the body. Even someone with no allergy can become unwell.
That is why the question of whether wasps are dangerous cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. A lone wasp at a picnic is a minor hazard. A nest with thousands of defenders is a major one, and the difference is entirely down to numbers.
There is also a time element. Stings that arrive in quick succession leave no room for the body to settle between them, so the effect builds quickly, and a person who has been stung twenty or thirty times is in a very different position from one who has been stung twice.
What multiple stings can do
After many stings, a person may feel sick, light-headed or shaky, develop a headache, feel their heart racing, or notice chills and aching. Swelling and pain can be widespread rather than local. These effects arise from the amount of venom received and not from allergy, which is one reason multiple stings are taken seriously.
Children are particularly vulnerable, as they are smaller. Older adults and those with other health problems may also struggle. Nobody can say in advance how many stings a given person can tolerate, so it is wise to seek help whenever someone has been stung many times, even if they say they are fine.
While you wait for advice, pay attention to how the person is breathing, how alert they are and whether they are able to talk normally. Changes in any of these are worth reporting straight away to the call handler or a medical professional.
How to get away
If a nest has been disturbed and wasps are coming at you, the aim is to put distance and a barrier between you and them.
- Move away immediately, turning your back on the nest.
- Cover your face and head with your arms or clothing if you can.
- Walk or jog in a straight line, rather than flailing, to a building or car and get inside.
- Close the door quickly and check for wasps that came in with you.
- Do not jump in water, as wasps will wait for you to surface.
- Check on others and help children and animals out of the area, if it is safe to do so.
Resist the urge to stop and swat. Every second near the nest is more time for it to send out defenders.
Run only if you have to and only in a straight line, since wasps tend to follow movement. Thick clothing helps a little, but do not stop to put on a coat. Keep moving until you are out of range of the nest, which may be a good distance away if the colony is large and agitated.
When to call 999
Call 999 for anyone who has been stung many times and looks unwell, and for any sign of allergy: swelling of the face, lips or throat, a wheeze or difficulty breathing, dizziness or collapse, or a widespread rash. Do not wait to see if the symptoms pass. Tell the call handler how many stings you think there were and where.
While waiting, keep the person calm and in a comfortable position, preferably out of reach of wasps. Remove any visible stings gently and cool the skin with a cold pack if you can. Do not give food, drink or medicine unless you are told to by the call handler. This guide is general information and does not replace medical advice.
Afterwards, the person who was stung may feel exhausted or shaky for the rest of the day. Let them rest, offer them a place to sit, and keep an eye on them. If symptoms return or change in the evening, seek advice again.
Dogs, children and bystanders
A person who tries to rescue someone else can end up being stung as well. If a child or pet is in the middle of a swarm, call them to you from a safe place and, if you must go in, do it quickly and calmly, covering your face and coming straight out again. Do not wade back in to retrieve a toy, a bag or a phone.
After the incident, tell everyone who lives in or visits the property where the nest is. Put a barrier or a clear marker around the area, as the colony will remain angry for some time and can attack again.
If you have workers, such as tradespeople or garden helpers, who were exposed, tell them what happened and give them the chance to seek advice as well.
Next steps
Whoever was stung, the nest has to be dealt with. Wasp Exterminator Kent will treat a nest in Harvel or the surrounding area for a fixed £120 with one visit guaranteed. A second nest on the property is £60 extra, there is no call-out charge, and the price stays the same whatever the time of day. We work seven days a week and offer same-day service. Tell us at booking if anyone has been badly stung or is allergic, so it can be prioritised. Our number is 01622 410 019, and the form at /contact-us/ works too.
Please also say how the stings happened and whereabouts the nest seems to be, as this helps us arrive prepared.
Wasps on your property in Harvel?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.