Yellowjacket safety tips

Yellowjackets are most aggressive in late summer. Taking precautions at this time can help you avoid being stung. Here are some DOs and DON'Ts to keep in mind...

DO...	DON'T...
Look before you sip your drink. Yellowjackets are attracted to sweet foods and drinks like soda and juices.	Swat at yellowjackets. They are more likely to attack and sting when aggravated.
Cover trash containers and keep them away from eating areas. Yellowjackets forage in garbage for food scraps and drink containers.	Smash a yellowjacket. When crushed, they give off an alarm pheromone that can cause other yellowjackets in the area to attack.
Wear heavy clothing when walking in wooded areas. Yellowjackets can sting through lightweight fabrics.	Wear perfume, scented hairspray or lotion, or brightly colored clothes if you are going outdoors. Yellowjackets are attracted to these things.
Try to remain calm in the presence of yellowjackets. Move slowly and deliberately and gently brush the yellowjacket away if it lands on you.	Let children play in overgrown or wooded areas. These are prime nesting sites for yellowjackets.
Call a professional pest control operator to remove a yellowjacket nest. This is a dangerous task for an amateur.	Use gasoline to eliminate a yellowjacket nest. Gasoline should never be poured into underground nest holes.

If you are stung by a yellowjacket...

• Wash the wound carefully with soap and water. This will help remove the venom.
• Apply cold water or ice in a wet cloth, or a paste of meat tenderizer with water.
• Take a pain reliever or an oral antihistamine to reduce swelling.
• Apply a calamine product to reduce itching.
• Lie down.
• Lower the stung arm or leg below the heart.
• Do not drink alcohol or take sedatives.

If the sting is to the throat or the mouth, seek medical attention immediately. Swelling in these areas can cause suffocation.

Signs that you may be allergic:

• Severe swelling in parts of the body distant from the sting site.
• Widespread skin irritation.
• Constriction in throat and chest/difficulty breathing.
• Dizziness or fainting.

If you experience any of the above symptoms after a sting, contact a physician immediately!