Africanized Honey Bee Emergency Response

http://afbee.ifas.ufl.edu

Africanized Honey Bees

W. H. Kern Jr.

Africanized Honey Bees• Same species as the European

Honey Bee

• The sting has the same toxicity as the European Honey Bee

• AHB and EHB can not be told apart by looking at them.

10 Times as Far and 10 Times as Many

EHB

AHB

300 yds. (m)

30 yds. (m)

EHBs Show Little Aggression

UF/IFAS

AHBs on the Attack

UF/IFAS

Stinger Density

Swarms• Are a way for colonies to divide when they

get too large for the hive location• The old queen and some of the workers

leave the old colony to found a new colony at a new location.

• These bees are not defensive because they do not have resources (honey and babies) to defend.

• Even Africanized bees are not very defensive at this stage.

Swarms Are Not Aggressive

UF/IFAS

Aerial Nest

When comb is present

expect bees to be VERY

DEFENSIVE. This is not a

swarm!New Port Richey, FLW. H. Kern Jr.

2 month old AHB Aerial Nest

W. H. Kern Jr.

Field Testing PPE

UF/IFAS

PPE• Bee suit with zippered veil and bee gloves.

• Bunker gear with Bee veil taped around edge of veil with Fire fighters gloves.

• Chemical spill Tyvek suit with bee veil and double layers of latex gloves.

• Brush land suit, veil and gloves.

• Always –eye protection glasses, goggles, or face shield under veil so bees can’t spray venom through veil into your eyes.

Bee suits with zippered veil and bee gloves are the best protection.

Chemical spill suit with bee veil and taped cuffs over gloves

UF/IFAS

Sting Shield and bill cap with Bunker /Turnout gear

UF/IFAS

Secure the bottom edge of jacket with a belt or duct tape kept bees from climbing up

under the jacket. Sleeve cuffs are

usually effective at keeping bees out.

UF/IFAS

This configuration provided adequate protection, but limits vision and was hot

and cumbersome. Have absolutely no skin exposed.

Do not wear a helmet if it is safe to do so, because bees will get under helmet and be carried to the engine or ambulance .

UF/IFAS

911- “Bee Sting” Situation Evaluation

• Is someone being stung now?

• How many victims?

• Location of Victim and the Bee Colony

• Call back number

• Are there any schools, day care centers, nursing homes, or businesses within 300 yards?

On Site Situation Evaluation• Turn off Lights and Siren prior to

approaching the victims location.

• From inside closed Recon vehicle– Identify location of all victims.– Is this a swarm or a colony with comb?– Try to identify the location of the bee colony.

• Stage engine about 150 ft. from the victim and bee colony.

• Stage ambulance at least 150 yards away from situation.

Warn Bystanders• Advise the people in homes and businesses

neighboring the incident, to remain indoors and bring in pets until the incident is concluded and the colony is eliminated.

• Swarms will rarely become defensive, but an agitated colony may attack anyone within 150 ft or more.

• Advise schools, day care centers, nursing homes, recreation centers within 300 yds of the incident to keep everyone indoors until advised that it is safe. Don’t forget to tell them afterwards.

In Route to a Stinging Incident

Everyone that will get out of any rescue vehicles within 100 yds of the stinging incident must put on PPE, including gloves, bee veils or face masks and hoods. AHB will attack anyone within 150 feet or more of a disturbed colony.

Staging for Rescue

150 ft.

150+ yards

• Locate all victims

• Locate bee colony

• Direct rescue efforts

• Evacuate victim

Recon vehicle should be as close as possible

MS ClipArt

MS ClipArt

UF HBREL

Subduing Bee Attacks

UF / IFAS

Choice of Foam• AFFF – Aqueous Film-Forming Foam is

recommended by Arizona F.R. Depts.

• Class A Foam is an acceptable substitute at 2-5%.

• AFFF foam kills bees within 60 sec and knocks them down immediately by wetting them.

• Plain water will only knock bees off temporarily and will not normally kill them.

Honey Bee mortality after 1 minute

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20

40

60

80

100

120

Profoam Class A Class B Publixsoap

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Approach Recommendations• Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) • A quick attack 1-3/4" hose line will be

pulled and hooked to the apparatus AFFF foam system. The hose line will be pulled by the firefighter at a quick pace towards the affected patient, with a full fog pattern on the nozzle -- sweeping the air surrounding the firefighters and patient.

Arizona Recommendations

• 1½ “ hose line

• 200 psi at 95 gpm

• AFFF with a full fog pattern

¾” line with integrated foam equipment using Class A foam

Ambulance Waiting 150 yards away

UF / IFAS

UF / IFAS

Transport the Victim to the Ambulance

• Do not have the Ambulance come into the incident area unless the EMTs have appropriate Personal Protection Equipment, especially veils.

• While transporting the victim to the ambulance, try to brush or wash away as many of the bees as possible from the victim and the rescuers. This will protect the EMTs and make it easier for them to treat the patient.

Securing the Scene• After the victims have been evacuated, the

defensive AHB Colony must be destroyed.• AHB will continue to be highly defensive

for up to 24 hours after the initial disturbance. They will attack any person or pet within 150 feet of the colony site.

• Pest control professionals are usually not prepared to subdue an agitated, highly defensive bee colony.

• Destroying an agitated colony is essential for public safety.

Danger Zones

150 ft150 yds.

Securing the scene

• The AFFF will kill the AHB within approximately 60 seconds of contact.

• The AFFF will be used to kill the colony after patients have been rescued. The same sweeping motion will be used to approach the bee colony completely flooding the hive with the AFFF hose line.

• Class A foam will kill honey bees if AFFF is not available.

Securing the Scene• Option One.

– Find and destroy the defensive colony with foam if possible. (colonies in trees, bushes, debris, non-electrical location, playground equipment, etc.)

• Option Two– Quarantine the site, asking people to stay

inside and bring pets inside until a licensed pest management professional arrives to kill the colony with insecticides. (especially colonies inside buildings or electrical equipment)

How do we keep firefighters out of the pest control business?

Situation 1: Homeowner calls 911 about bee swarm or feral colony? No one is being stung, then no emergency so refer to a PMP.

• Situation 2: People stung and trapped inside structure, do the firefighters just get the people out or do they eliminate the threatening colony? Should AHB calls be treated like a hazardous chemical spill with a charge levied against the property owner? An agitated AHB colony is a public safety threat. But fire departments don’t have the time or man-power to eliminate nuisance feral bee colonies. Where do we draw the line between threat and nuisance?

First Aid• Bees leave behind a

stinger attached to a venom sac. Do not try to pull it out, as this may release more venom. Gently scrape it out with a blunt-edged object, such as a fingernail, credit card, or dull knife. Wash the area with soap and water. www.pennhealth.com/ ency/article/000033.htm

First Aid

• Apply a cold or ice pack, wrapped in cloth for a few minutes. Apply a paste of baking soda and water and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes, treat with a “sting swab” or dab on a bit of household ammonia. Take acetaminophen for pain.– HealthDayNews - ScoutNews LLC

First Aid• The three greatest risks from insect

stings are 1. allergic reaction, which could be

fatal in less than 30 minutes, 2. toxic response from a massive

envenomation, 5-10 stings / lb. body wt. is potentially lethal.

3. infection, which is more common and normally less serious.

First aid prior to arrival• Seek emergency care if you have any

of these symptoms, because they indicate an allergic reaction:

– Large areas of swelling – Abnormal breathing – Tightness in throat or chest – Dizziness – Hives – Fainting – Nausea or vomiting – Persistent pain or swelling

First aid prior to arrival

• In the case of an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) paramedics will initiate Advanced Life Support measures in accordance with their Department’s Standing Medical Protocols:

First aid prior to arrival

• If anaphylaxis without hypotension: – If wheezing, administer Albuterol 2.5-5 mg via

nebulizer – May repeat PRN– Administer Diphenhydramine 25 mg IV/IM– Consider Methylprednisolone 125 mg IV or

Dexamethasone (Decadron®) 25 mg IV– Epinephrine 0.3 mg IM/IV

First aid prior to arrival• Anaphylaxis with hypotension:

– If wheezing - administer Albuterol 2.5-5 mg via nebulizer

– May repeat PRN– Administer Normal Saline bolus of 20 mL/Kg to

maintain systolic BP greater than 90 mm Hg– Administer Diphenhydramine 25-50 mg IV/IM– Administer Methylprednisolone 125 mg IV or

Dexamethasone (Decadron®) 25 mg IV– Administer Epinephrine 1 mg in 10mL IVP every

3 minutes to a total of 5 mg over 15 minutes

AHB and Your Profession• You may never have to rescue a victim

from a large defensive colony in your entire career.

• AHB colonies in trees impacted by vehicles and inside structures, may become common hazards in Florida.

• AHB colonies in public playgrounds, parks, and schools may be added to your scope of work.

Questions?Contact Dr. Bill Kern Associate Professor of Entomology & NematologyFt. Lauderdale Research and Education CenterUniversity of Florida3205 College Ave.Davie , FL  33314whk@ufl.eduPhone  (954) 577-6329

Or visit the AFBEE Program website online athttp://afbee.ifas.ufl.edu