Anaphylactic shock

[Popparand]

Browsing through old postings on this remarkable forum (as one does while waiting for sunshine and warmer weather) I came across the sticky on AS.

The reason for raising the topic again is quite simply, what should bee keepers do if bees are a potential cause of this life-threatening condition? Is there a recommended best practice? Briefly:

1. AS can strike anyone without warning. I have already been stung once, which means I am potentially at risk (AS susceptibility increases when your immune system is already primed by an earlier attack).

2. AS can be a reaction to other stings e.g. wasps. How many people get AS from honey bee stings compared to other sources e.g. wasp stings, nut allergies, etc?

3. Beekeepers' legal liabilities towards thieves going into AS when trying to pinch hives. Yep, you could be liable unless there is a prominent warning sign!

4. Would it be prudent to have an epipen handy anywhere there are bees? In these risk free days of elf and safety and ambulance chasers should epipen use be part of the BBKA training programme?

Apologies for raising the subject again. But is bee sting induced AS something we should all be worrying about, or so rare that it can be confortably ignored?

 

[Beefriendly]

4. Would it be prudent to have an epipen handy anywhere there are bees?

The catch 22 according to my beekeeping GP is that you need a prescription for an EPI pen and you can only get that prescription after having had a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting.
As he says it's crazy....but they are expensive bits of kit that the NHS is reluctant to dish out willy nilly.
I understand they can be acquired from sources abroad..nudge/wink.
But if anyone knows of any legal sources please let us know.

 

[drex]

Epipens have to be prescribed by a registered medical practitioner. If prescribed for your own use and you used it on someone else, you would be on very thin ice. Anaphylaxis is not that common, and most GP s would not prescribe " just in case" . They have a very short shelf life anyway.

I believe all bee keepers should be familiar with the first aid measures with regard to reaction to stings, but leave the medical treatment to professionals.

I have been a doctor for 40 years and kept bees for 10, never been worried by fears of anaphylaxis

 

[eltalia]

No "spoiler alert" as youse blokes would know, like.
In episode two of Vikings (season 5) it is AS that is
deployed to dispose of the christian king.
Yeah, I know... TV. But the scene had me chuckling, loved
the puffy eyes, an' they even thought to photoshop over
his battle scar having him passover as an obese wimpy
type - hardly a fitting end for a Viking slayer, hey ..!!?

Bill

 

[Popparand]

Thanks for the heads-up eltalia.

However, in a country where instant death from toadfish, ciguatera, irukandji, cone shell. box jellyfish, blue-ringed octopus, funnel-web and redback spiders, not to mention great white sharks and common brown snake (+10 others) lurks round every corner, I guess that AS is the least of your worries!

 

[SDM]

I consulted my GP about a "just in case prescription" after speaking to a lady who's husband was dead 15 mins after he was stung. He was a Beekeeper and stung many times before and as I spend much of my time with bees and usually out of phone signal with at least a half hour drive to the nearest a+e I thought it was prudent.
The answer I got was that I can pay for a private gp appointment and then pay for the script he would write( prescription normally being free in Wales)
As for your legal position, unless you've been previously served with an order to move your bees.from their location then you are not legally responsible.for what a wild creature would do. I've even spoken to a judge about this and he assured me no crime would have been committed. In other words you can put your bees where you like and they can do as they lose until a by-law or CT order says they can't be there. However that's not an attitude to adopt while trying to win friends and influence people.

 

[charlievictorbravo]

The best thing that most beekeepers can do regarding Anaphylactic Shock is have a plan - what to do if you're dealing with an inspection, you get stung and start having breathing difficulties.

Here are my ideas:
1 Carry a mobile phone when at the bees
2 At first signs of a problem, move away from the hive, lay down, feet elevated.
3 Phone 999 and when you get through to ambulance service, say "Anaphylaxis, beekeeper, (location either postal address or coordinates)"
4 Wait for the paramedics - do not attempt to get somebody to drive you to hospital or to drive yourself.
5 Routine carrying of an Epipen is not safe or realistic unless you have been diagnosed with a problem.

The above "rules" came about from suggestions of the immunology specialist from Derriford Hospital.

CVB

 

[Hivemaker.]

Here are my ideas:
1 Carry a mobile phone when at the bees
2 At first signs of a problem, move away from the hive, lay down, feet elevated.
3 Phone 999 and when you get through to ambulance service, say "Anaphylaxis, beekeeper, (location either postal address or coordinates)"
4 Wait for the paramedics - do not attempt to get somebody to drive you to hospital or to drive yourself.
5 Routine carrying of an Epipen is not safe or realistic unless you have been diagnosed with a problem.

Any suggestions for the umpteen out of the way places that cannot get a mobile phone signal, apart from...die.

 

[madasafish]

Any suggestions for the umpteen out of the way places that cannot get a mobile phone signal, apart from...die.

Wave a white flag to signal surrender.. or buy yourself a satellite phone...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Any suggestions for the umpteen out of the way places that cannot get a mobile phone signal, apart from...die.

Take up yoga - and thus be flexible enough to kiss your own ass goodbye

 

[Hachi]

Take up yoga - and thus be flexible enough to kiss your own ass goodbye

 

[thorn]

3. Beekeepers' legal liabilities towards thieves going into AS when trying to pinch hives. Yep, you could be liable unless there is a prominent warning sign

Nonsense.

 

[For want of a better word]

Any suggestions for the umpteen out of the way places that cannot get a mobile phone signal, apart from...die.

Never go alone!
Carry Flares

Agree with CVB...... SWMBO is being desensitised for bee sting at the Eden Unit Derriford... now on 6 week updosing.

Little ones have been trained to use Eppipen ( FOR SHOCK TO GIVE THE VITAL 5 MINUTES FOR AN AMBULANCE)

Nos da

 

[charlievictorbravo]

Any suggestions for the umpteen out of the way places that cannot get a mobile phone signal, apart from...die.

No!

CVB

 

[eltalia]

Thanks for the heads-up eltalia.

However, in a country where instant death from toadfish, ciguatera, irukandji, cone shell. box jellyfish, blue-ringed octopus, funnel-web and redback spiders, not to mention great white sharks and common brown snake (+10 others) lurks round every corner, I guess that AS is the least of your worries!

Maaaaate... the pointy end or the flat side of a well ballanced pig-sticker will
fix most of those. But waving same around whilst at the Langstroth Alter..?.. man
could lose a whole arm..!!

The mobile phone suggestion had me chuckle... good luck with that in most ideal
apiary sites in this Country.... sheesh..!

Bill

 

[B+.]

Apologies for raising the subject again. But is bee sting induced AS something we should all be worrying about, or so rare that it can be confortably ignored?

Nobody thinks it will it will ever happen .... until it does.

 

[For want of a better word]

Nobody thinks it will it will ever happen .... until it does.

Quite so....
Our thoughts are forever with you.

Nos da

 

[coffindodger]

Out of the way places - Never go alone!
/QUOTE]
Agree

 

[drex]

Nobody thinks it will it will ever happen .... until it does.

I remember. I also know that you agree with me about medical treatment and advice being left to the professionals, unless an epipen is prescribed for your own personal use. However I repeat that all bee keepers should be familiar with the necessary first aid practices. Many I speak to are not!
Dr Ex

 

[Newbeeneil]

Although of course AS is very serious I was told by a professor in the field that bee AND wasp stings only accounted for an average of 4 deaths in the U.K. per year and only about 40 in the US?

He also said that the problem with Epipens is that they have an 18 moth use by date so the prescription would have to be ongoing.