H IT TH E D I RT
Survive Running On Colorado’s Trails... From Treating a Bee Sting to Poison Ivy to Tick Bites
T
hey may seem like minor nusances. After all, we’re not talking about a rattlesnake bite or a mountain lion attack here. But it’s likely that most of us who run on the trails have experienced all of these things at one time or another. So here’s a reminder of how to deal with it when the inevitable happens. Bee Stings
It can happen fast. One minute you’re in the zone, blissfully cruising down the trail on a warm, fall day. The next minute a sharp pain alerts you that you’ve been stung by a bee. To help alleviate the panic, dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology say it’s a good idea to know what to do – and not do – to treat a bee sting. “The first thing to do is to get the stinger out quickly,” said board-certified dermatologist Carrie Kovarik, MD, FAAD, an associate professor of dermatology, dermatopathology and infectious diseases at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. “The longer the stinger stays in the skin, the more venom it releases, adding to the person’s pain and swelling.” To treat a sting from a bee, wasp or hornet, Dr. Kovarik recommends the following tips: Stay calm. Although most bees usually only sting once, wasps and hornets can sting again. If you are stung, calmly walk away from the area to avoid additional attacks. Remove the stinger. If the stinger remains in your skin, remove it by scraping over it with your fingernail or a piece of gauze. Never use tweezers to remove a stinger, as squeezing it can cause more venom to release into your skin. Wash the sting with soap and water. Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling. 14 coloradorunnermag.com
Photography By JOHN GARNER
