Wasp Attack Prevention

[Anchor Lead]

Many Koreans visit their ancestors' graves ahead of the Chuseok holiday. But wasps can pose a serious threat in the woods. Here's how to avoid wasp attacks.

[Pkg]

As soon as a mannequin is set up and a beehive touched, dozens of wasps flock to the mannequin's black hair. A test involving various colors verified that wasps tend to attack dark colors. When bunches of thread made up of eight different colors were hung up, the wasps were shown to avoid the brighter colors when they were agitated. This means that wearing bright colored clothes can reduce the risk of wasp attacks.

[Soundbite] Chung Jong-chul(Korea Nat'l Park Service) : "Wasps attack objects of dark colors because they take them for their predators, such as bears and badgers."

What should you do when you are attacked by wasps? Cover your head and run away as fast as you can, as wasps can fly at a speed of 40-50 kilometers per hour.

[Soundbite] Kim Kang-min(Rescue worker, Seoul Mapo Fire Department) : "Wasps tend to attack in groups, so even when you spot just one wasp, move away immediately by at least 20 meters."

To treat wasp stings, apply an ice pack to the affected area and seek emergency aid immediately.