Fire ants are unique in that they sting in a group, and each ant can sting more than once. Stings are common in geographic areas where these insects are most prevalent, such as the Southern region of the US. So it’s important to be prepared if you live in these areas or if you will be traveling there.
A typical fire ant colony has 100,000 to 500,000 insects inside.
Fire ants won’t seek out humans (or pets) to sting, as mosquitoes will. Instead, like bees, fire ants react to being disturbed, such as when their colony’s mound is kicked or stepped on. Because a typical fire ant colony has 100,000 to 500,000 insects inside, it’s not surprising that you can quickly get stung by hundreds of ants crawling up your leg or arm, depending on what is touching the mound. These stings occur most commonly on the feet and legs, but can occur anywhere there is human contact with the mound and where the fire ants crawl.
There’s no mistaking the stings. Initially there is a sharp, localized pain and within about 24 hours, a raised, white pustule will usually form at each sting site. These can persist for multiple days. It’s important not to scratch these pustules to avoid infection and scarring.
In the event that you are stung by fire ants, immediate relief from the pain is crucial. Fire-Out delivers instant, on-contact pain relief from fire ant stings, so it’s important to have on hand if you will be outdoors in fire ant territory. The maximum strength dual-action formula includes benzocaine that acts as a topical anesthetic to alleviate the pain, while reducing the itch from the sting with its cooling menthol. Fire-Out comes in a convenient, no-mess roll-on applicator that’s perfect for on-the-go, and makes it easy to apply to an area with many stings. It’s important to apply as directed to avoid itching and the potential for infection through scratching.