If bees or wasps swarm around you, cover your head as best you can without blocking your view and move quickly towards shelter, away from the nest. Avoid swatting the insects or jumping into water. Once safe, check who was stung. AVS guidance on bees and wasps
Call 995 if someone has trouble breathing, tongue or throat swelling, collapses or becomes unresponsive after a sting. If they have a prescribed adrenaline auto-injector for severe allergy, use it promptly according to their action plan and get emergency help. MOH advises going to the emergency department for multiple stings or a sting inside the mouth, throat or near the eyes. SCDF emergency medical services MOH guidance on insect bites and stings KKH guidance on recognising anaphylaxis
- Get away from the nest and into shelter.
- Call 995 for severe allergic symptoms or collapse.
- Get emergency department assessment for multiple stings or a sting inside the mouth, throat or near the eyes.
On this page
- Move the group away from the insects
- After a single sting with only local symptoms
- Recognise a severe allergic reaction
- Frequently asked questions
Move the group away from the insects
If you simply spot a nest, keep your distance and back away. During an active swarm, move quickly to shelter. Pick a place children can see and give a short direction. Once the group is inside, check that everyone is present and tell staff where the insects were. AVS guidance on bees and wasps
For a nest near a path or school entrance, keep people away and notify the venue. AVS lists the NParks helpline at 1800 471 7300 for a hive encounter in a park. Leave the assessment and removal to the responsible team. AVS guidance on bees and wasps
After a single sting with only local symptoms
Once safe, check for a visible stinger. MOH advises gently scraping it away with the edge of a card, then washing the area and using a cold pack wrapped in cloth. Watch for symptoms beyond the sting site. Ask a pharmacist or clinician if you are unsure what to do next. MOH guidance on insect bites and stings
If someone was stung repeatedly or near an eye, inside the mouth or in the throat, seek emergency department care. If breathing becomes difficult or the person collapses, call 995. MOH guidance on insect bites and stings SCDF emergency medical services
Recognise a severe allergic reaction
Warning signs include difficulty breathing, noisy breathing, trouble swallowing, swelling of the tongue, faintness or collapse. Call 995 promptly. Use the person’s prescribed adrenaline auto-injector according to their emergency plan and follow the dispatcher’s instructions, even if they begin to improve. SCDF emergency medical services KKH guidance on recognising anaphylaxis
What to say on the call
Give your address or park entrance. Say that the person was stung, describe their breathing and alertness and tell the dispatcher whether adrenaline has already been given. If you have another helper, ask them to direct the ambulance crew to you. SCDF emergency medical services
Frequently asked questions
Can a wasp sting leave no stinger?
Yes. AVS explains that a wasp sting generally leaves no stinger to scrape out. Get help based on the person’s symptoms and number and location of stings. AVS guidance on bees and wasps MOH guidance on insect bites and stings
Should a student go back for a bag left near the nest?
Stay in the safe area and tell staff what was left behind. Wait for them to decide when the area can reopen. AVS guidance on bees and wasps
Sources
- SCDF emergency medical services
- AVS guidance on bees and wasps
- MOH guidance on insect bites and stings
- KKH guidance on recognising anaphylaxis