EMS: Courage And Compassion In Action

By Shawn Godfrey07:01AM / Monday, April 30, 2007Print Story | Email Story

Shawn Gidfrey is a certified paramedic and operations manager for the Village Ambulance Service.

Thatâ€™s Gotta Sting! With spring finally here itâ€™s important to be prepared for a wide variety of allergies, including bee stings. And if youâ€™re like me, the mere site of a bee will cause you to run to the hills screaming like a frightened schoolgirl. There, I said it. Being stung by a bee is painful and, for some people, a potentially dangerous experience. The intensity of discomfort felt by the victim depends on the beeâ€™s breed, the anatomical location of the bee sting, and the victimâ€™s sensitivity to the venom contained in the beeâ€™s stinger. To Bee Or Not To Bee According to Wikipedia.org, a bee sting strictly means a sting from a bee (honeybee, bumblebee, sweat bee, etc). In the vernacular it can mean a sting of a bee, wasp, hornet, yellow jacket or sawfly. Some people may even call the bite of a horsefly a bee sting. It is important to differentiate a bee sting from an insect bite. It is also important to recognize that the venom or toxin of stinging insects is quite different. Therefore, the body's reaction to a bee sting may differ significantly from one species to another. The most aggressive stinging insects are wasps (including bald-faced hornets) but hornets (the European hornet is gentle)are generaly not aggressive. However, all of these insects aggressively defend their nests, although they have not developed a sting targeted at mammals as the honeybees have done. A Deadly â€œPointâ€ In people who are allergic to bees, a sting can easily trigger a dangerous or deadly anaphylactic reaction. The signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction may include, but are not limited to, hives, shortness of breath, tightness or discomfort in the victimâ€™s throat/chest, confusion, loss of consciousness, and nausea and vomiting. Depending on the victimâ€™s allergy threshold, these signs and symptoms can occur minutes or even seconds after the initial sting and usually necessitate immediate emergency medical intervention. Treatment * Move yourself or the victim away from the bee(s)! When threatened, a bee can release a warning scent in order to attract other bees as allies; additional bees may lead to additional stings! * It is important to watch the bee sting victim for any signs of an anaphylactic reaction. Many people who are prone to an anaphylactic reaction often carry a portable medication auto-injector that can be self-administered. The injector contains a spring-loaded needle that shoots through a port in the tip and into the recipient's body (typically a large muscle like the quadriceps) to deliver epinephrine. Epinephrine is a medication that inhibits your body from releasing chemicals that may cause an allergic reaction. Along with relieving the aforementioned signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction, epinephrine also helps to maintain a normal blood pressure and reduce swelling in the victimâ€™s eyelids, hands, feet, tongue, and throat. * Immediately locating and removing the beeâ€™s stinger from the skin is extremely important! If left embedded, the venom from a beeâ€™s stinger will continue to secrete into the skin, subsequently exacerbating the effected area and, in anaphylactic cases, the overall condition of the victim. After the stinger is located, it should be removed with tweezers. Pinch the area around the sting site so that the stinger rises above the skinâ€™s surface and pull it out with the tweezers. * Once the stinger is removed, apply ice or a cold compress to the sting site. This may help alleviate any associated pain and/or swelling. * There are also many commercial bee sting treatment products available on the market. When you or a loved one are engaged in activities away from home, having these products readily available may be beneficial. Prevention Ways to avoid bee stings may include the following: * Avoid known areas of high bee hive and nest concentration. * Do not bother inactive hives or nests, or assume some nests are â€œempty.â€ * Refrain from swatting at bees or other flying insects. * While working outdoors, be sure to wear long pants and longâ€“sleeved shirts. * Keep outdoor dining areas clean and free from rubbish. * Look for ground nests when mowing grass. Mowing over a nest will create hostile bees. The Importance of Time Even if the patient fully recovers following an epinephrine injection, it is essential to call for immediate emergency medical intervention for all suspected or proven anaphylactic reactions. Many of these victims require further in-hospital care consisting of cardiac monitoring, blood work analysis, or additional breathing treatment(s). A delay in emergency medical intervention greatly increases the risk of a person having a severe allergic reaction. In some people, serious illness or even death may occur despite appropriate emergency medical care.

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Your Comments

iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.

Hey Shawn!! I HATE BEES!!! I am allergic and my lifeline is my Epipen. It seems that more children are allergic! As a school bus driver I have been trained to administer the medicine to children who have been stung and are allergic. It is important to know that the effects of the epinephrine are short lived and it is necessary to get professional help immediately. Great article!! ;)
from: gold duece girl	on: 04-30-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

It's either coincidental or you are just hitting your audience at that right time! Great job! I'm allergic to bees and found this column extremely informative.
from: Gene	on: 04-30-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Hello iberkshires. Shawn (whom I do not know personally) has written another informative article. His eagerness to help the community should not go unnoticed.
from: Stephan	on: 04-30-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Shawn another great info article. With spring and summer coming bees will on be on the sting, so WATCH OUT. Keep it up, read ya next week.
from: Chuck	on: 04-30-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Here in canada it is not taught to use twezzers while removing a stinger, instead you should scrape the stinger away,using for example a credit card. overall Great article......
from: Tim	on: 04-30-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I agree with Tim that it is a good article, however, I disagree with simply using a "credit card" to scrape the stinger away. There is a lot of data to support that simply "scraping" the stinger away does not dislodge it fully. Research a variety of internet sites for more information. Hasta La Vista...
from: Jorge	on: 05-01-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

My mom used to put a pasty mix of water and baking soda on a bee sting until it dried to supposedly reduce swelling and help a stinger work its way out. I don't remember how effective this old cure was, but I do remember how much the bee sting hurt!! Little buggers. I have also heard of people GETTING bee stings to help with certain ailments. Any info on either, Shawn? Your smart so maybe you have an answer... looking forward to your next article!!
from: aurora	on: 05-01-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Great articles, Shawn. You're providing good, up to date information that will hopefully make all of our jobs that much easier!
from: Tara	on: 05-01-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Very informative , I didn't know removing the stinger was that important. I look forward to next weeks. thanks....
from: bernie	on: 05-02-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Isnt it funny that the people that are deathly allergic to bees never carry their epipen around with them????? Good look ahead with the weather changing to the summer season.
from: MidnightMedicine	on: 05-03-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Weekend Outlook: Fresh Start

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:04PM / Thursday, January 01, 2026

Check out the events happening this weekend, including hiking, volunteering, fundraisers, and more.

Editor's Pick

First Friday
Downtown North Adams
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.

The new year is here so kick it off with music, art, and games that will fill downtown North Adams for its First Friday event, themed "Fresh Start."

Participating businesses will have extended hours and many galleries will host openings, closings, and other special events.

More information and event line-up here.

Friday

Discover Greylock Hike
Mount Greylock Visitor Center, Lanesborough
Time: 1 p.m.

Celebrate the great outdoors with a walk in the woods to explore seasonal changes the signs of wildlife along an easy-moderate trail.

This family-friendly 2-mile hike follows the Bradley Farm Trail with a gradual 440-ft elevation gain.

Hikes may include tree identification, local history and orienteering. Be aware that trail conditions may be snow-covered, icy or muddy.

More information here.

Future Labs Gallery All Members Reception
43 Eagle St., North Adams
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

View artwork by more than 40 Future Labs Gallery member artists. More information here.

Collaged Coasters for Tweens and Teens
Milne Public Library Williamstown
Time: 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

"Decompress and Decoupage." Decoupage is the art of applying a collage of paper onto a surface. Make collage wooden coasters whether it's a gift or a piece of art to hang on your wall. More information here.

Karaoke
Dalton American Legion
Time: 6 p.m.

Sing your heart out while supporting the local American Legion Post. More information here.

Joni Mitchell Tribute Band Performance
17 Main St., South Egremont
Time: 8 p.m.

Big Yellow Taxi, a Joni Mitchell tribute band, will perform many of Mitchell's popular songs.

Tickets are $20. More information here.

Saturday

Music Bingo
Wahconah Country Club
Time: 6 p.m.

Help raise money for the girls and boys basketball program by playing a game of musical bingo. More information here.

Lecture by Former Peace Corps Volunteers
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield
Time: 2 p.m.

Two former Peace Corps volunteers Eduardo and Edmundo tell their story of collecting used equipment from the Berkshires and shipping it to Honduras. More information here.

Tracking Winter Wildlife for Beginners
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox
Time: 11 a.m.

Take a beginner-friendly walk through fields and forests to search for tracks, scat, and signs of the delicate but exciting interactions between predators and their prey.

With any luck, you will find signs of coyotes, foxes, deer, rabbits, and more. Tickets are $15 for Mass Auburn members and $20 for non-members.

More information here.

'The Princess and the Frog' Screening
Milne Public Library, Williamstown
Time: 1 p.m.

Bring your family to the library for a free screening of the Disney classic, "The Princess and the Frog." Enjoy popcorn and to be more sustainable bring your own bowl.

More information here.

Volunteer to Build Lee's Rink
Lee Athletic Field
Time: 10 a.m.

Volunteers are needed to help build Lee's skating rink. Email the Youth Commission to let them know you can make it.

More information here.