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EMT's & FF's Fight Off Bee Swarm

8 comments

CLEBURNE, TEXAS, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMT’S faced a stinging challenge Monday evening as they rushed to help a man who was being attacked by a swarm of angry bees.

The 83-yr.-old man maintained the beehive in his back yard to harvest the honey, but when he started up his riding lawn mower, it is believed that the noise triggered a frenzy in the hive and the swarm attacked him, stinging him “hundreds of times.”  Somebody called 9-1-1 promptly and the medic unit arrived in three minutes, with the fire engine not far behind.

The medics were trying to get to the man to help him, but the angry swarm sent out batches to attack them too, keeping them from getting to the victim.  The firefighters pulled a hose line and charged the inline foam system, then sprayed the foam on the medics and the victim, holding off the swarm while they got everybody into the ambulance.

NBC Dallas has this video report:
After the ambulance was able to start the transport, the fire crew destroyed the hive and dispersed the swarm.  The victim remains in the hospital in serious condition.  The medics were stung about 20 times each, but they have been treated and released back to duty.

Posted by on September 22, 2009 • Filed under: rescue
  • nick

    Cranston Rhode Island had a bee attack at a school yesterday during a fire drill. From what I heard, 40 kids were stung and at least 1 was taken to the hospital.

  • nick

    Cranston Rhode Island had a bee attack at a school yesterday during a fire drill. From what I heard, 40 kids were stung and at least 1 was taken to the hospital.

  • http://ems12lead.blogspot.com/ Tom B.

    Good call! Finished foam kills bees within seconds. There used to be an excellent PowerPoint about this at the Flordia Fire Chiefs website. They have been invaded by Africanized bees because they have so many ports. I’m sure Texas is no exception.

    They recommend full turnout gear, including SCBA mask (but minus air pack and helmet) and seams taped with duct tape. Apparently bees get up inside the helmet and the bees end up back at the station.

    If you’re being chased by an angry swarm of Africanized bees, do not jump in water! They will wait for you. The recommendation is to find a safe place like a car, shut the door, roll up the windows, and do hand-to-bee combat with the remaining assailants. It could be life-saving.

    Tom

  • http://ems12lead.blogspot.com Tom B.

    Good call! Finished foam kills bees within seconds. There used to be an excellent PowerPoint about this at the Flordia Fire Chiefs website. They have been invaded by Africanized bees because they have so many ports. I’m sure Texas is no exception.

    They recommend full turnout gear, including SCBA mask (but minus air pack and helmet) and seams taped with duct tape. Apparently bees get up inside the helmet and the bees end up back at the station.

    If you’re being chased by an angry swarm of Africanized bees, do not jump in water! They will wait for you. The recommendation is to find a safe place like a car, shut the door, roll up the windows, and do hand-to-bee combat with the remaining assailants. It could be life-saving.

    Tom

  • Laurie

    Hand to bee combat with the remaining assailants… comment just made my morning….lol:)

  • Laurie

    Hand to bee combat with the remaining assailants… comment just made my morning….lol:)

  • Ralph

    Although not Africanized bees, we had a similar situation a couple weeks ago. While working a rollover at 3 AM, the drunk driver was frantic and screaming about his buddies still in the car. While my medic assessed the drunk, I mean driver, I was searching the marshy ditch and around the car. Back at the fenceline I was attacked by wasps. This fat man hasn`t moved that fast in years. Wouldn`t you guess? I ran back to my medic and the pt to get them to move to safety. My medic was stung, 3 LEO`s were stung and a couple FF`s were. The damn drunk never was stung.

  • Ralph

    Although not Africanized bees, we had a similar situation a couple weeks ago. While working a rollover at 3 AM, the drunk driver was frantic and screaming about his buddies still in the car. While my medic assessed the drunk, I mean driver, I was searching the marshy ditch and around the car. Back at the fenceline I was attacked by wasps. This fat man hasn`t moved that fast in years. Wouldn`t you guess? I ran back to my medic and the pt to get them to move to safety. My medic was stung, 3 LEO`s were stung and a couple FF`s were. The damn drunk never was stung.