Wasp in the car

Risks associated with driving

Here are a few tips on what NOT to do if you learn that you have a Wasp in your motor vehicle while driving at high speed. This article can save your life. Just imagine if a person makes a sudden turn at speed of 100 kilometers per hour. Consequences could be devastating. Impulsive reaction to fear of the presence of a tiny insect can be fatal. Not as a result of insect’s bite but sudden flick on the steering wheel.

Stay calm, here are the facts

Only a small percentage of humans will have an adverse reaction to a wasp sting. The reaction is usually local. Redness and swelling on the skin surface and rarely fatal. Even if you are allergic it’s best to stay calm and avoid sudden movements. Wasps are not aggressive unless they are in danger.

Flipping and rolling a car at high speed is much more serious. Arguably, more than 90 percent of the population are petrified of bees and wasps. If you sit on a wasp it’s going to sting but rarely if you see it flying. Making sudden and erratic motion will cause it to act in self-defence and potentially sting you.

Advice to those who first encounter a wasp in the car while driving

1. Keep your eyes on the road
2. Open the window where there are no occupants and slow down if possible, they usually leave
3. Never try to swat a wasp. If you miss it, it’s going to retaliate. They are good at spotting movement

Please take this advice, maybe nobody ever finds out why you crashed because the insect will not be there after the crash. Do insects really attack?

Risks associated with driving unrelated to driving skills. Driver’s presence of mind and full composure are paramount. Pull over where safe if you can’t ignore or get rid of the insect in a calm manner.

If stung by a wasp some individuals can have a potentially life-threatening reaction, known as anaphylaxis. This can lead to anaphylactic shock as a result of immune system reaction.

If you have a history of anaphylaxis, carry an epinephrine auto-injector kit in the car. “Bee and wasp sting kits” contain epinephrine injections. Epinephrine relaxes muscles and blood vessels, enabling heart and respiratory system function normally.

The best way to avoid and spot intruders in your car

• Keep windows up while parked
• Inspect the inside before the trip
• Don’t leave any food left-overs inside

If you had an unusual experience while driving please contact us and share with us