8 Ways To Protect Yourself From Being Stung By a Bee or Wasp

Bees and Wasps are extremely active this time of year while they get ready for the winter.

Getting stung by a bee is painful and can be a life or death situation for those who are allergic.

I've been stung 10 times in my lifetime, all of which occurred in one week of elementary school. Needless to say, bees are not my friend.

There are a few things you can do to keep yourself protected from bees and wasps according to About Education.

1. Don't wear perfumes or colognes.

Don't smell like a flower. Bees and wasps that are searching for nectar can detect and follow strong scents even from a distance. When they get a whiff of you, they could land on you to do some investigating.

2. Avoid wearing brightly colored clothing, especially floral prints.

This seems like a no-brainer. Don't look like a flower. They love flowers. Bright colors attract bees, neutral colors do not.

3. Be careful what you eat outdoors.

Imaging Mike and I know this first hand. Bees and Wasps love beer. Look at Mike running like a crazy person from the bees in our golf cart!

Sugary foods will attract bees and wasps, so keep them at a minimum and always check before you take a sip to see if one has flown in your drink.

4. Don't walk barefoot.

Some wasps make their nests on the ground. If you step on or near one, it will try to protect itself and sting you. Word to the wise, always check before you sit down as well. I've sat on a bee before... it was very unpleasant.

5. Try not to wear loose-fitting clothes.

This goes for all insects I think. Just the other day I had a pair of loose-fitting pants on. When I sat down inside I felt like something was tickling my leg. It was a huge black ant. Scared me half to death! Be careful, if a bee or wasp gets caught in your baggy clothing, it could sting you while trying to get out.

6. Stay still.

Well isn't that hilarious. We all know that we are supposed to stay calm and not dance around when bees and wasps come close, but it works. Think about it... what would you do if someone came swinging at you? Probably punch back! A bee will leave you alone once they realize you are human, and not the flower they were looking for.

7. Keep your car windows rolled up.

It boggles my mind when I see people with their windows cracked in the parking lot this time of year. Do you not know how easy it is for a bee to get trapped in there! They crawl in and fly around inside your nice new car but then can't get themselves out!

8. Call a professional to have unwanted bees, wasps, or hornets removed.

This is serious. My husband is a landscaper and just last week he came in contact with the largest wasp nest he, or anyone else we know, have ever seen. I am so thankful that he wasn't stung given his extreme allergic reaction he has with bees.

Can you spot the nest in this photo? If you need a hint... look for the gray mass in the middle of the picture. The nest was a size of a beach ball!

My husband and the homeowner called the professionals immediately. The pros were shocked at how big it was and were there within 30 minutes to remove the nest.

Be careful out there friends!