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Are Wasps Dangerous? Understanding Stings and Nest Disturbance in Stanford-le-Hope
Being chased by angry wasps is frightening, but a few simple actions in the first seconds can reduce the number of stings and get everyone to safety.
What a disturbed nest looks like
A disturbed nest is nothing like a single wasp at a table. When a colony senses a threat, guards at the entrance sound the alarm and dozens of wasps can pour out within seconds. They head for the source of the disturbance, which may be you, a mower, a ladder or a child who has wandered into the flight path.
Wasps that are in defence mode sting repeatedly, and they can chase a person for some distance. The experience is loud, frightening and over very quickly, but the stings may keep coming until you are well away.
Planning what to do in advance is useful because there is no time to think clearly during an attack. The steps below are simple enough to remember.
Think of a typical scenario: someone is strimming along a fence, passes over a hidden hole, and within a couple of seconds is surrounded. The best response is to drop the tool, protect the face and walk steadily away, rather than running in circles. The stings usually come in the first moments, and distance brings them to an end.
The first ten seconds
Your first aim is distance. The further you are from the nest, the fewer wasps will pursue you.
- Move away immediately, in a straight line, away from the nest.
- Protect your face and the back of your neck with your arms or clothing as you go, but do not stop to fight the wasps.
- Head for a building and shut the door behind you. A car with the windows closed also works.
- Do not jump into water, since wasps will wait for you to come up.
- Take children by the hand or carry them. Call pets after you if they can follow.
Do not flap or swat, as this prompts more attacks. Once indoors, check that no wasps have followed you in.
Dark hair and dark clothing near the face attract defensive wasps, so cover your head and neck with a jacket or your arms if you have nothing else to hand. Do not stop moving to put it on.
Checking everyone afterwards
When you are safe, check each person from head to toe for stings. Children and pets may be stung without telling you. Look in hair, behind ears, under collars and sleeves, and inside clothing, where wasps sometimes become trapped.
Wash stings with cool water, remove any visible sting and apply a cold pack. Give plenty of reassurance, especially to children.
Call 999 if anyone shows swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness, or a widespread rash. Many stings in one person call for medical advice even if they seem fine at first, particularly for children, older people and anyone with heart or breathing conditions. This is general guidance and not medical advice.
Wasps will often follow a person for some distance but tend to give up as you move further from the nest. A car with the windows up or a closed door is enough to end the chase.
It also helps to consider the setting. A swarm in an open garden is easier to escape than one in a narrow side passage or a shed, where there is only one way out. If you are working in a confined space and wasps appear, move out through the exit you came in by rather than pushing further in. Employers and anyone running a group, such as a youth leader or a site manager, should make sure the people they are responsible for know where the nearest shelter is. Practising the idea, even briefly, makes the real thing less frightening.
Staying safe afterwards
Do not go back immediately to retrieve belongings. Angry wasps remain around the nest for a while and can sting again. Wait, and if you must retrieve something, it is better to leave it where it is until the nest has been dealt with.
Keep windows and doors near the nest closed, and keep children and pets inside. Tell everyone in the household, and neighbours, where the nest is.
Make a note of what you were doing when the nest was disturbed, for example mowing, trimming or hammering, so you can avoid doing it near the nest again. If the nest is on a boundary, it is worth letting your neighbour know too.
If a child falls or cannot run, pick them up rather than leaving them. Shield their face with your body, and keep moving until you are inside.
Why a calm plan beats improvisation
People in a swarm panic, and panic leads to the worst choices: running in circles, flailing, jumping into a pond or going back to rescue a pet. A rehearsed plan, even a simple one, cuts through it.
Talk it through with the family at the start of summer, in the same way you might talk about a fire drill. Everyone should know to walk away from a nest, shut doors behind them and tell an adult.
Wasps start building from late April, and the colony grows until August when it can hold 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. The risk of a swarm rises with the size of the colony, so the sooner you find and deal with a nest, the safer your garden is.
For pets, call them from indoors and open the door. Dogs often run towards their owners, which draws the swarm to the door, so be ready to close it behind them.
Getting the nest treated
After an incident like this, the nest needs treating before anyone goes back. Wasp Nest Removal Essex charges a fixed £90 per nest, with one visit guaranteed, and £35 for an extra nest on the same property. The business is open seven days a week, offers same-day service and is fully insured, serving domestic and commercial customers.
To book, calling 01245 327274 or using the online booking form found on the contact page. Tell the technician about any allergy and describe exactly where the wasps came from.
The technician covers Stanford-le-Hope and the surrounding villages. Keep everyone away from the area until the work is done.
Wasps on your property in Stanford-le-Hope?
Fixed price £90 per nest, same-day service available.