Severe insect bites

You’ve stopped for lunch somewhere without cell phone reception. One of your party upsets a swarm of African bees. They attack and sting several members of your party before they can scramble into the closest vehicle. Peter, with stings all over his face, frantically tells you he’s highly allergic to bees. Best response:

Anyone who’s allergic to insect bites should carry an EpiPen, says Dr Malan. “It’s a stick filled with a small adrenaline shot that you can administer yourself and it’s very effective,” he says. EpiPens are pretty expensive at R1 000 per stick, Lourens adds. But if you are allergic to stings and at risk of anaphylactic shock, get some. For those not allergic to insect bites, a strong anti-histamine should do the trick. “Use something like a bank card to carefully scrap off any stings stuck in the skin and give the person anti-histamine or cortisone if you have it. If the person’s blood pressure falls, keep their legs in the air until they feel better,” says Dr Malan.