Straight answerFor an ordinary sting: if it was a bee, scrape the sting out sideways with a fingernail or card. Wash the area with soap and cold water, then hold a cold pack wrapped in a cloth on it for 10 to 15 minutes. Raise the arm or leg if that is where the sting is. Pain and swelling usually settle over the next few days.
This page is general first aid information from New Zealand health sources. It is not medical advice. For advice any time, call Healthline free on 0800 611 116.
First aid for a wasp or bee sting, step by step
Move away from the area first, because a disturbed nest sends more wasps. Then deal with the sting itself. Health New Zealand and Healthify give the same basic steps. Wasps don't leave a sting behind, so for a wasp sting you skip straight to washing and cooling.
- Get away from the nest or swarm, calmly, to somewhere indoors or well clear.
- Bee sting? Remove it fast. Scrape it out sideways with a fingernail or bank card. Don't squeeze it with fingers or tweezers.
- Clean the sting site with soap and cold water.
- Cool it with a cold pack or ice wrapped in a cloth for 10 to 15 minutes. Never put ice straight on skin.
- Raise the arm or leg if that is where the sting is.
- Watch the person for the next hour for any of the 111 signs at the top of this page.
Signs of anaphylaxis: a severe allergic reaction
Anaphylaxis is a whole-body allergic reaction that can come on fast. St John notes some allergic people can collapse within 3 to 4 minutes. Any of the signs below after a sting means call 111. Don't wait to see if it gets better.
- Swelling of the lips, eyes, face or tongue
- Wheezing, noisy breathing or shortness of breath
- Tightness in the chest or throat, or trouble swallowing or talking
- A hoarse voice or a cough that won't stop
- Severe dizziness, collapse or signs of shock
- Hives or a rash spreading over the body within minutes
- Stomach pain or vomiting after a sting
If the person has a prescribed adrenaline autoinjector, help them use it as their action plan says. ASCIA advises lying flat, or sitting with legs out if breathing is hard, and not standing or walking. Stay with them until help arrives.
Stings in the mouth or throat
Treat a sting inside the mouth or throat as urgent, because swelling can block the airway. This usually happens when a wasp has crawled into a drink or food. Get medical help straight away, and call 111 if there is any swelling or trouble breathing. Sucking ice or rinsing the mouth with cold water can help while you wait.
Lots of stings at once
Many stings at once, which happens when a nest is disturbed, raise the risk of a whole-body reaction, especially for anyone with a known allergy. ASCIA says multiple stings need urgent medical review. Get clear of the wasps first, then call Healthline or 111 depending on how the person is.
How common is sting allergy?
Landcare Research estimates about 2 to 3% of people may be at risk of a whole-body reaction to insect stings, and about 10% of people stung more than once become allergic to wasp venom. ASCIA lists stinging insects among the most common causes of anaphylaxis in Australia and New Zealand.
If you know you are allergic
Carry the adrenaline autoinjector your doctor prescribed, every time you are outdoors in summer, and follow your written anaphylaxis action plan. Health New Zealand and Landcare Research suggest asking your doctor about venom immunotherapy and wearing a medical alert bracelet. Stay well away from any nest, and have nests at home treated by someone else. How nest removal works.
Bee sting vs wasp sting: how to tell
A sting left in the skin means a honey bee. Wasps keep their sting, so there is nothing to remove. Both get the same treatment with first aid. Knowing which it was helps if you see a doctor about an allergy. How to tell bees from wasps.
When to see a doctor later
A normal local reaction can swell a lot and stay sore or itchy for several days. See a doctor or call Healthline if the swelling keeps spreading after a day or two, or if signs of infection develop: spreading redness, heat, pus or a fever. Ask a pharmacist about over-the-counter options for itch and swelling.
Dog or cat stung? See our pet sting guide.
Questions people ask
What should you not do if stung by a wasp?
Don't stay near the nest, because more wasps will follow. Don't squeeze a bee sting out with your fingers or tweezers, which can push in more venom. Don't put ice straight on the skin. And don't ignore swelling of the face, lips or throat or any breathing trouble: that is a 111 call.
How long does a wasp sting last?
The sharp pain usually eases within hours. Redness, swelling and itch can last a few days, and a large local reaction can be bigger and slower to settle. If swelling keeps spreading after a day or two, or the area becomes hot, red and painful with pus or fever, see a doctor or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
Can you die from a wasp sting?
It is rare, but yes, from anaphylaxis or from a sting that swells the throat. ASCIA estimates stinging insects cause about 3 deaths a year across Australia and New Zealand. That is why the warning signs matter: call 111 straight away for any breathing trouble or facial or throat swelling.
Should I take an antihistamine for a wasp sting?
We don't give medicine advice. Ask a pharmacist, your doctor or Healthline (0800 611 116) what suits you. An antihistamine is not a treatment for anaphylaxis: anyone with breathing trouble or throat or face swelling needs 111, and their prescribed adrenaline if they have it.
Sources we checked
- Bee and wasp stings (Health New Zealand)
- Insect bites and stings (Healthify He Puna Waiora)
- Bites and stings first aid (St John)
- Insect and tick allergy fast facts (ASCIA)
- First aid for bee stings (KidsHealth NZ)
- Wasp sting first aid (Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research)
- Healthline 0800 611 116 (Healthpoint)
Last reviewed 2026-10-06.