Africanized Honey Bee Emergency Response

Yellow Jacket ,Wasp vs Bee

• Yellow 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.

History

• Africanized Bees enter Florida.

• AHB entered State at Ports of Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami.

• Container ships most likely carriers.

Recorded Stinging Incidences

• 5 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.


• 19 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.


• 13 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.


• 1 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 Incidences• 10 July 2006 – West Palm Beach, Palm

Beach – Homeowner stung 20 times, 4 dogs killed (2 adults, 2 puppies), 2 puppies injured.


• 19 July 2006, Zellwood, Orange –

• Children stung by colony under base of tree

• 21 July 2006, Ft. Meyers, Lee.

• Man stung and hospitalized


• December 2006, Ft. Lauderdale

• 3 people stung.

• January 2007, Miami.

• Family of five stung


• Feb 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 County

• First 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 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.

Life Cycle of AHB

• Drone will live approximately 1-3 months.

• Worker (female) 2-6 weeks in the summer,4-7 months in winter.

• QUEEN 3-4 years.

30 yards. (m)

10 Times As Far and 10 Times As Many

300 yards. 100 (m)

EHB

AHB

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

European Swarm

Swarm on House

Homeowner attempt to Kill Bees

Water meter

New Port Richey, FL

Bad Day in the Woods

• Aerial Nest

SUB FLOOR

Bees will hive anywhere

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

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 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 300 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.

300+ yards

Recon Vehicle as close as possible

Locate all victims Locate bee colony Direct rescue efforts Evacuate victim

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.

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 Line

• 1½ “ hose line.

• 120 P.S.I. At 95 G.P.M.

• Class A foam with a full fog pattern.

1¾” Line With Integrated Foam Equipment Using Class A Foam

Ambulance 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 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 not prepared to subdue an agitated, highly defensive bee colony.

• Destroying an agitated colony is essential for public safety.

Securing the Scene• The 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 Treatment

• 100 stings per pound of body weight is potentially fatal in a normal adult

• 10 stings per pound of body weight is potentially fatal in a child

• Anaphylaxis can have a rapid onset in sensitive persons

Medical Treatment• 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

Medical Treatment• 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.

Medical Treatment

• 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, 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

CREDITS: Dr. William Kern University of Florida

Entomology & Nematologyand

Florida Dept. Of Agriculture And Consumer Services,

CREDITS:

• CREDITS

• Dr David Barnes FDACS

• University of Florida

• Lt. David Langston Osceola County Emergency Services

Africanized Honey Bee Emergency Response

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