Sue McBean researches internet first aid advice on the prevention and treatment of wasp stings, including the use of vinegar, as a new breed of ‘Euro wasp’ hits the UK

Nurses receive tuition in anaphylaxis but not the aftercare of wasp stings, although this is mandatory for veterinary nurses specialising in caring for horses (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons 2003). It would be reasonable to expect that all primary care and emergency healthcare workers should be able to advise on evidence-based treatment for wasp stings. Family, friends and neigh-bours are a common source of folklore information for members of the public and there is some information available on the web (Table 1).