A summer of wasps… and hornets. For several weeks, the Asian hornet, a wasp whose bites are particularly feared, has been proliferating at high speed on French territory. There are, according to Europe 1, tens of thousands of nests in France.

Sunday August 21, two cyclists were violently attacked by several of these insects in the Loire: bitten about fifty times each, they were transported in absolute urgency to the hospital. If the drama remains exceptional, it is however necessary to be wary of the bites of these cousins ​​of the wasp.

Indeed, Asian hornet stings can be fatal: every year, around ten people in France die as a result of an attack, specifies Yahoo! News.

To avoid the worst, it is therefore necessary, in the event of a hornet bite, to apply a few measures, also depending on where the bite is located.

If you are stung in the mouth, or in the throat, quickly affix an ice cube to the affected area. “This will anesthetize a bit. If this is not enough, you can apply a dab of hydrocortisone cream (prohibited for children under 6 years old) or two drops of Lavender Aspic essential oil (prohibited for pregnant women and children under 8 years old)” , explains Thomas Kassab, pharmacist, at Médisite.

If you experience symptoms from an Asian hornet sting, such as swelling of the tongue, lips, throat or eyes, dizziness, nausea, fever or chills, contact the SAMU immediately.

“Faced with an allergy, you have to act quickly. So in case of doubt, we call 15. A regulating doctor will measure the urgency of the situation and adapt the medical response”, adds Thomas Kassab on Médisite.

In the meantime, in order to best protect yourself against the presence of these dangerous Hymenoptera, you can install traps in your garden and around your house. In our slideshow, discover 6 ideas for formidable homemade traps to make with just a few ingredients to keep Asian hornets away for a long time.