The buzz is back

It’s that time of year again. The flowers are blooming and bees and wasps are coming back.

Bees are a vital part of the ecosystem but for a lot of people they can be scary. We asked some folks how afraid they are of being stung, on a scale of one to 10.

Shannon Stone, who works as a stylist in downtown Colorado Springs told us that she’s, “Like a 14, it’s pretty intense. I’m allergic to them,” she said.

We also spoke with Chris Martin, phamacy manager at UCHealth Memorial Hospital about what to look for as signs of an allergic reaction.

“Things you’re looking for are swelling of the throat, perhaps swelling of the tongue, difficulty breathing is really the big thing, and if any of those things are experienced after a bee sting, you’ve got to get to an emergency room, urgent care or a doctor’s office as quickly as possible,” he said.

Aside from applying cold compresses and over the counter pain medications for a sting, Martin suggested applying hand sanitizer right away to help take the sting out. He says that the alcohol in it can help neutralize some of the venom.