Africanized Honey Bee Emergency Response

Yellow Jacket ,Wasp vs BeeYellow Jackets, Wasps can sting multiple times.Honey bees can sting animals but human sting traps the stinger which results in the death of the bee.

1957

HistoryAfricanized Bees enter Florida.AHB entered State at Ports of Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami.Container ships most likely carriers.

Recorded Stinging Incidences5 May 2005 LaBelle, Hendry Horse stung to death.10 June 2005 Tampa, Hillsborough Homeowner stung.13 June 2005 Stuart, Martin AHB entered beekeeping equipment and became defensive.29 June 2005 Bokeela, Lee Homeowner stung.

Recorded Stinging Incidences19 July 2005 Naples, Collier Homeowner stung.19 July 2005 Boca Raton, Palm Beach Bulldozer operator attacked.26 Sept. 2005 Sarasota, Sarasota Homeowner stung.10 Oct. 2005 Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie City worker stung while reading water meter.

Recorded Stinging Incidences13 Oct. 2005 Moore Haven, Glades Man and women mowing grass were stung. City workers stung.18 Oct. 2005 Englewood, Sarasota Dog stung to death.27 Oct. 2005 Ft. Myers, Lee People stung at RV park, one hospitalized.Nov. 2005 Miami Gardens, Dade Two dogs killed, owner sent to hospital, First responders and media stung.

Recorded Stinging Incidences1 Dec. 2005 Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie City worker stung while reading water meter.14 April 2006 Boca Raton, Palm Beach Goats and sheep killed, owners hospitalized.5 May 2006 LaBelle, Hendry Swarm in a tree stung a child.

Recorded Stinging Incidences10 July 2006 West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Homeowner stung 20 times, 4 dogs killed (2 adults, 2 puppies), 2 puppies injured.

Recorded Stinging Incidences19 July 2006, Zellwood, Orange Children stung by colony under base of tree21 July 2006, Ft. Meyers, Lee. Man stung and hospitalized

Recorded Stinging IncidencesDecember 2006, Ft. Lauderdale 3 people stung.January 2007, Miami.Family of five stung

Recorded Stinging IncidencesFeb 22 2007, Ft. Pierce Bulldozer operator 20 stings.Nearby school locked down for 4 hours.April 29 2007,Ft Lauderdale.Construction Site 30 Stings.

AHB in Osceola CountyFirst Osceola Hive Located March 2007.Not a Stinging Incident.July 2007 large Hive discovered in Poinciana.Several Hives have appeared in both Kissimmee and St Cloud.January 08 Bees swarmed Helicopter at Kissimmee Airport.

Africanized Honey Bees

Africanized Honey BeesSame 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.

Life Cycle of AHBDrone will live approximately 1-3 months.Worker (female) 2-6 weeks in the summer,4-7 months in winter.QUEEN 3-4 years.

10 Times As Far and 10 Times As Many30 yards. (m)300 yards. 100 (m)EHBAHB

SwarmsAre 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

Swarm

Swarm

European Swarm

Swarm on House

Homeowner attempt to Kill Bees

Water meter

Hive

Bad Day in the WoodsAerial Nest

New Port Richey, FL

Hive

SUB FLOOR

ATTIC

Bees will hive anywhere

PPE

PPEBee 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 cant 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

Sting Shield and Bill Cap With Bunker /Turnout Gear

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.

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 .

Approach Actions

911- Bee Sting Situation EvaluationIs someone being stung now? How many victims?Location of Victim and the Bee ColonyCall back numberAre there any schools, day care centers, nursing homes, or businesses within 300 yards?

On Site Situation EvaluationTurn 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 300 yards away from situation.

Warn BystandersAdvise 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. Dont forget to tell them afterwards.

In Route to a Stinging IncidentEveryone 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 Rescue150 ft.300+ yardsRecon Vehicle as close as possibleLocate all victims Locate bee colony Direct rescue efforts Evacuate victim

Choice of FoamAFFF 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.

Approach Recommendations Class A foams .A quick attack 1-3/4" hose line will be pulled and hooked to the apparatus. 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. Figure 8 pattern.

Attack Line1 hose line.120 P.S.I. At 95 G.P.M.Class A foam with a full fog pattern.

1 Line With Integrated Foam Equipment Using Class A FoamAmbulance Waiting 300 yards away

Transport the Victim to the Ambulance Do not have the ambulance come into the incident area unless the EMS Crew 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 Rescue Crew and make it easier for them to treat the patient.

Securing the SceneAfter 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 not prepared to subdue an agitated, highly defensive bee colony. Destroying an agitated colony is essential for public safety.

Securing the SceneThe Class A foam will kill the AHB within approximately 60 seconds of contact.

The Class A foam 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 Class A foam hose line.

Medical Treatment100 stings per pound of body weight is potentially fatal in a normal adult10 stings per pound of body weight is potentially fatal in a childAnaphylaxis can have a rapid onset in sensitive persons

Medical TreatmentBees 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

Medical TreatmentApply 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.

Medical TreatmentThe three greatest risks from insect stings are.Allergic reaction, which could be fatal in less than 30 minutes,Toxic response from a massive envenomation, is potentially lethal.Infection, which is more common and normally less serious.

First Aid Prior to ArrivalSeek 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

CREDITS: Dr. William Kern University of FloridaEntomology & NematologyandFlorida Dept. Of Agriculture And Consumer Services,

CREDITS:

CREDITSDr David Barnes FDACS University of FloridaLt. David Langston Osceola County Emergency Services

Swarms are a way for HB colonies to divide when they get too large for the current hive or colony locationThe old queen and half of the workers leave the old colony to found a new hive at a new location.These bees are not defensive because they do not have resources (honey and brood) to defend.Even Africanized honey bees are not very defensive at this stage.

This is a European Honey bee swarm. Honey bee swarms are not aggressive because they dont have any resources to defend. When disturbed, the queen flies away and the swarm follows her.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 credit card or dull knife. Wash the area with soap and water. This should be done several times a day until the skin is healed.

Apply a cold or ice pack, wrapped in cloth for a few minutes. Do not apply ice directly to the skin as it could damage tissues. Apply a paste of baking soda and water and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes, or dab on a bit of household ammonia. Take acetaminophen for pain.Talk to your doctor about Benadryl and/or Tagamet for allergic reactions and swelling.