An EpiPen® (epinephrine) was administered to a woman suffering a severe allergic reaction from a bee sting on Aug. 15, potentially saving her life.
At about 6:20 p.m., members of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company were dispatched to a home on Lt. Shubael Road in Higganum. Upon arrival, medical personnel injected the unresponsive woman with a dose of epinephrine, the first-line treatment for life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). The woman, whose airway had been blocked to due swelling of the tongue, was stabilized and transported via Haddam Ambulance to Middlesex Hospital with a paramedic on board.
Late summer and early fall are when bees and wasps are most active, and most likely to sting. Over 95 percent of stings in the United States are from honey bees or yellow jackets. In most cases, insect stings are just annoying and home treatment is all that’s necessary to ease the pain. The normal reaction to being stung or bitten by an insect is swelling, pain and redness that may persist for up to a week but usually gets better without medical treatment.
However, for those allergic to insect stings or bites, the situation may quickly become critical.
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Life-threatening allergies to the venom of stinging insects such as bees, wasps and ants exist in up to 0.8 percent of children and 3 percent of adults, or about two million Americans.
When someone suffers a whole-body (systemic) allergic reaction to insect stings, they may experience a variety of symptoms, usually within a matter of minutes to a few hours.
Local skin reactions at the site or surrounding the sting:
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Pain
Swelling
Redness
Itching
Warmth
Small amounts of bleeding or drainage
Hives
Generalized symptoms that indicate a more serious and possibly life-threatening allergic reaction:
Coughing
Tickling in the throat
Tightness in the throat or chest
Breathing problems or wheezing
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness or fainting
Sweating
Anxiety
Itching and rash away from the site of the sting
The HVFCo. recommends some basic precautions if you are allergic to insect venom:
• Stinging insects like bees are sensory-driven, so try not to look or smell like a flower. When outside, avoid brightly colored clothing or using sweet-smelling lotions, perfumes, colognes and shampoos that are liable to attract insects. These may mimic pheromones, or chemicals that animals release to communicate with each other.
• Always wear closed-toed shoes, particularly on grass.
• Use caution when working around bushes, shrubs, trees and trash cans. If your activity might expose you to insects or their nests (like gardening or hiking), wear pants and long-sleeved shirts.
• Check food and drinks before consuming, especially at pools and picnics, where yellow jackets are known to be present.
• Keep an insecticide approved for the use on stinging insects handy should treatment of a nest be necessary.
• Hire a trained exterminator to treat any known nests in the immediate area.
• Because not all stings can be avoided, if you’re prone to allergic reactions, seriously consider carrying self-injectable epinephrine.
As always, at the first sign of a serious allergic reaction, don’t hesitate to dial 911.
Do You Have What It Takes? Find more information on the activities of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. and ways you can get involved at our website www.HaddamFire.com, or connect with us on Facebook.