• 1.Brush the ants off.
Fire ants inject venom from a stinger connected to a
poison gland. A single ant will pinch the skin with its
jaws and sting numerous times, injecting more venom
with each sting. As the venom enters the skin, you
will experience the intense, burning sensation that
gives fire ants their name. Using your hand or a cloth,
make a fast, sharp, brushing motion until their jaws
dislodge from the skin and they fall off. Jumping up
and down, shaking the affected area, and placing the
ants under running water will not prevent the ants
from attacking and may cause further injury.
2 Run from the area.
As you remove the ants, flee the area of the attack.
When a mound or nest is disturbed, or foraging fire
ants are encountered, they immediately climb up any
vertical surface and sting. Hundreds of ants may
attack within seconds, especially in mild to high temperatures,
when ants stay closer to the surface. The
ants will continue to attack even after you have left
the nest area, however. Continue brushing them as
you run.
3. Remove your clothing.
Fire ants will stay in the creases of clothing and may
sting later. Once you have reached safety and removed
all visible ants, take off your shoes, socks, pants, and
any other articles of clothing where the ants were visible.
Inspect your clothes carefully, especially the
pockets and seams, before putting them back on. If
possible, launder the items before wearing them again.
4.Treat the affected area.
After several minutes, the site of each bite will redden
and swell into a bump. A topical antihistamine may
relieve some itching at bite sites. Several hours to several
days later, the bumps will become white, fluidfilled
pustules, which will last for several days or, in
some cases, weeks. Immediately upon the appearance
of pustules, treat the affected areas with a solution
of half bleach, half water to lessen pain and reduce
itching. Use an over-the-counter pain medication
to reduce discomfort. Pustules will form regardless
of topical treatment. If pustules break, treat with a
topical antibacterial ointment to prevent infection.
Pustules may leave scars.
5.Monitor symptoms.
Even a healthy adult may have a severe reaction to
hundreds of stings, and people with certain allergies
may develop serious complications. Watch for severe
chest pain, nausea, severe sweating, loss of breath,
severe swelling of limbs, and slurred speech. Seek
immediate medical attention if any of these symptoms
are present. In highly allergic people, anaphylaxis
may occur from fire ant stings. Administer
epinephrine immediately.
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