What will you be taking out with you this SUMMER

[Tizzie]

I will make sure every time I leave the house to take some malt vinegar, cotton wool and anti histamine tablets. Reason being if stung by a wasp. To précis it down, many years ago got stung whilst on holiday on my ring finger, just had time to take my rings off before swelling started, I don't suffer from anaphylactic shock but it was very painful and didn't have anything with me. Thank goodness for my Husband, he left me sitting on a bench and ran to the nearest chemist and shop. Have subsequently been stung and when the vinegar is put on OH the deepest joy.

[ggc]

Thanks for the tip - I didn't know that you could use malt vinegar on stings. I will be sure to give it a try.

[featherstick]

I'll be taking the kids, so taking the vinegar as well is a jolly good idea!

[Brambles]

I wonder; Would citric acid do the same job? The crystals would be easier to carry about and it's easy enough to make up a solution when needed.

[BaseOne]

Have heard this one before, but is there any proof that it works?

[Tizzie]

Hi Brambles,

There are 2 acids that are used in wasp stings Acetic acid which is in vinegar and Citric acid which I understand lemon juice or lime juice are often used.

I personally would say no to the crystals, reason being they're usually used as a flavouring agent and preservative in foods and drinks, also they don't really dissolve in cool water. I find it easier just to pour some vinegar into a small bottle and put it into my bag.

I appreciate that most people don't like the smell of vinegar (except on a nice bag of chips) There must be lots of other things to use, preferably from our kitchen cupboards an idea might be to put Wasp Stings into Google. For me it's Vinegar because I know it works for me.

Hope you find this helpful.

Tizzie

Area 4

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[Yorkshire Andy]

Why mess about trying to bottle some when most pubs and cafés provide pre packed sachet's

[junmist]

Vinegar does not work on all stings so be careful, on jellyfish stings it makes them worse

[Tizzie]

Hi Andy,

There's nothing I like more than freebies from Cafe's and Pubs. For me it's a personal choice using a small plastic bottle as there's less chance of the sachets puncturing. I have the typical saying of what's in a woman's bag -everything but the kitchen sink and something's are pretty heavy.

Cheers,

Tizzie

[Decaff]

For gnat bites if you don't have a specific cream to ease the itching you can use white toothpaste and it takes away the itch, much cheaper than over the counter creams and it really does work!

I always carry antihistamines with me in the summer, a small Liz Earle skin tonic spritzer, plasters, anti diarrhoea metlets, pain killers, and my normal bits n pieces.