Three out of four mums wouldn't know what to do if their child suffers a severe allergic reaction to a wasp sting

Three out of four mums don't know what to do if their child suffers a severe allergic reaction to a wasp sting, new research warns.
Findings reveal that three quarters (76 per cent) of mums wouldn't know how to treat anaphylactic shock if their child experienced it, while over two thirds (66 per cent) worry about the threat posed by wasps during the warm summer months.


The Anaphylaxis Campaign advises parents to call 999 immediately to seek medical help, keep the child calm, lie the patient down with their feet raised to increase blood flow to the hear and, if the patient is going to vomit, turn them onto their side and into the recovery position until an ambulance arrives.
Over four fifths (82 per cent) of 500 mums surveyed by pest control firm Rentokil also said that they'd deliberately avoid a wasp hotspot so as not to put their kids in danger.
Mumsnet co-founder Carrie Longton said: 'Wasps are a real anxiety for parents, particularly with the added worry of an allergic reaction if a child hasn't been stung before.
'It's great to have some practical advice on avoiding wasps and, more importantly, what to do if you do get stung, hopefully leaving us free to enjoy the holidays with one less cause for stress.'
The research findings come as Rentokil reports a 13 per cent increase in wasp related enquiries on the same period last year, with this spring's unseasonably warm weather blamed for the explosion of wasp nests.

Mumsnet founders Carrie Longton, left, and Justine Roberts. Carrie said: 'Wasps are a real anxiety for parents.'

Warning of the risks, Rentokil has launched UKWaspWatch - an online interactive map that allows people to log sightings of wasps across the UK and help establish where any wasp hotspots are. For every sighting logged, Rentokil will donate 20p to allergy charity The Anaphylaxis Campaign.
Savvas Othon, spokesperson for Rentokil said: 'As a parent, I understand why wasps make people nervous as they can be unpredictable. The trick is to avoid staying in areas where wasps may cluster such as around ice cream vans or rubbish bins in picnic areas.
'Wasps do get more aggressive towards the end of the summer as there are no developing larvae for them to feed and they tend to seek out just carbohydrates. It makes sense to encourage your children to be extra vigilant when eating carb-packed snacks around this time.'
He added 'We're just going into the peak of the wasp season and this can be a concern when planning summer activities, particularly if children suffer from allergic reactions to stings. Our advice is that prevention is better than cure; helping children know how to reduce the risks of being stung is vital.
'This can be something as seemingly obvious as not disturbing a wasps' nest as they can contain up to 5,000 wasps by the end of the summer and are incredibly dangerous if provoked. This research shows there is a real need for parents to understand more about anaphylaxis so they can treat any reactions quickly and effectively.'
Dr Shuaib Nasser, Consultant in Allergy, Addenbrookes NHS Trust Hospital, Cambridge and member of The Anaphylaxis Campaign Clinical and Scientific Advisory Panel said: 'While just 0.5 per cent of the population suffers an acute allergic reaction to wasp stings, we always advise simple precautions to minimize any risks.