Fire ant bites occur when you are attacked by fire or “red” ants. Fire ants range from very tiny to about 1/5 inch. They have very strong mandibles that can tear and cut their victims skin. Fire ant get their name because their bites create a burning and stinging sensation on the skin. After you are bitten, the affected skin will swell with fluid. Fire ants will attack anything that they feel is a threat to them and their queen. In South Florida they can often be in the backyard and in dirt patches, so it’s good to wear shoes or sandals when relaxing outdoors.
 
If you find that you are close to a fire ant mound, step away as fast as you can. If you are bitten, remove your clothing because the fire ants can hide in them. Clean the infected area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Reduce the pain from the fire ant bites by applying ice packs. Hyrdrocortisone, calamine lotions or Benadryl to ease the swelling and itchiness. If you encounter excessive swelling, hives, or chest pains, consult a doctor immediately; you may be having an allergic reaction. The first time I was bitten by fire ants I was completely stunned as I never had much of a reaction in past to bugs such as mosquitos. But within a short period of time I had a huge rash that was red, inflamed, very itchy and unsightly.
 
Ninety-five percent of the fire ant toxins are non-water soluble, so rinsing it with
water alone isn’t going to help. You need to use something that will be able to neutralize the toxic venom. Other home remedies that can alleviate the pain of fire ant bites are Worcestershire sauce, baking soda and water paste, equal mixture of bleach and water, aloe gel, crushed aspirin paste, and alternate applications of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide to name a few. If those fail, there are some ready made fire ant bite creams on the market.

If your child gets bitten be sure to get them some benadryl to relieve the itching and swelling. It is not easy for kids to be distracted and it’s important to help them relax and stay calm as it resolves.