Tips from the public health department for the peak wasp season in late summer
Medical officer: Prevent wasp stings, cool stings immediately and consult a doctor immediately if stung in the mouth or throat
Especially in late summer, eating sweet foods in the open air can quickly become uncomfortable, as wasps are particularly interested in sugar at this time.are now particularly interested in sugar, and if people are not careful or strike out frantically, there is a risk of a painful sting. The public health department of the city of Chemnitz therefore advises people to leave the insects alone if possible and not to swat at them. Medical officer Dr Harald Uerlings: "It is even better to keep the animals away. It is best to pick up the fruit in the garden early so that no wasps are attracted. Stings in the mouth area in particular must be avoided: When wasps and bees are present, drinking from bottles and cans is dangerous, as it is impossible to tell whether an animal is in the bottle or on the neck of the bottle. Parents should take care to keep children's fingers and mouths clean when eating." Another preventative measure is to cover all food and drinks that attract wasps.
A wasp sting is painful for normally sensitive people, but not dangerous. There are some household remedies, the effect of which is controversial: one of them is rubbing the sting site with a halved raw onion, another is cooling. "In the case of stings in the mouth and throat area, a doctor must be consulted immediately", says Dr Harald Uerlings, "because the resulting swelling could impede breathing". Anyone who experiences dizziness, nausea or palpitations after a sting must call an emergency doctor. These symptoms indicate an insect venom allergy. If you are known to be allergic to insect venom, you should always carry an emergency kit with you during the warm season.
The wasp season begins in spring, but wasp populations only reach their peak in autumn. For this reason, wasps are particularly intrusive in late summer, as the "workers" need sugar as food and the food source of nectar or honeydew becomes increasingly scarce. As a result, wasps become increasingly 'flexible' in their search for sugar towards the end of summer and try to get to rich sources of sugar from humans - fructose, for example from plums and pears, is also very popular with the animals.