Be Smart About Bee Stings

My wife just told me a disturbing story about a friend of hers with whom she and our girls spent the morning with at the park. Apparently one of the friend's children was stung on the foot by a bee...yesterday! My wife says that the little girl's foot has blown up to "five times the normal size.," and that she can't walk. The kid is three.

My wife asked the mom whether she (the mom) should be taking the girl to the ER. Uh, duh. Mom said no, and they decided to go to lunch instead. When my wife's friend and kids arrived at the restaurant, the little girl was burning up and shivering. The lady finally left to go to the hospital.

I'm not writing this post to bag on a particular person, it's simply to make a couple of points. First, if you or your kid are stung by a bee, wasp, hornet, etc. and an allergic reaction develops (immense swelling could be one, and shivering probably is one), please go get it checked out. Maybe it's nothing, but maybe it's something; and with bee stings, that something can lead to anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic response that affects multiple organ-systems of the body. Symptoms may include lowered blood pressure, swelling, hives and asthma-like symptoms.

Second, don't make the foolish en vogue decision to avoid the ER because you don't have medical insurance. Get your kid or your own behind to the ER pronto--pay cash, they'll bill you. Even if it cost $500,000, which it wouldn't, isn't your child's life worth that? Wouldn't you pay a frickin' dollar a day for the rest of your life to save your child? WHO CARES WHAT IT COSTS! Get them to the ER. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times: Every hospital has charity programs to help people unable to pay. I know--I've used it. And I know lots of people taking advantage of these programs. Don't eat up this BS the politicians are trying to feed you. Get your kid to the ER.

Here are some tips to avoiding bee stings, and what to do if you or your kid gets stung. Stay informed.