Quick Tips to Zing the Sting

There’s one surefire way to tell it’s fall when you step outside—the bees and yellow jackets are everywhere…especially at the cider mill. And just when you’re enjoying one of the last outings of the season—ZAP! You’ve got a nasty bee sting. If the buzzin' bugger left a stinger in your skin, your best bet is to pull it out. And once the stinger is gone, here's a few quick ways to soothe the sting with a miniumum of pain, swelling, or itching:
 

• Pour a little baking soda in your hand and add enough water to make a paste. Smear it on the sting and leave it there for at least 20 minutes.
• Mix a teaspoon of meat tenderizer with a few drops of water to make a paste, then apply it to the sting for no more than 30 minutes.
• Try pouring an acid-based liquid like vinegar or lemon juice on the sting to neutralize the acid of the venom.
• What if you’re stung out in the woods—not close to the kitchen where you can reach for these handy homemade remedies? No problem—just apply a dab of mud to the spot. Soil (with a little saliva added) almost always contains a little clay, which will help draw out the venom and reduce pain and swelling.