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September 7, 2010

When firefighters arrived on the scene in Attleboro, MA, they found a 51-year old woman lying on the grass, covered by a swarm of yellowjackets. She had fallen on a bee nest, and was stung more than 500 times.

According to The Boston Globe, firefighters used a carbon dioxide chemical fire extinguisher in attempt blast the swarm of insects away Sunday. Three firefighters were treated for stings.

The barely conscious woman was taken to the ER at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, Massachusetts, where a few pesky bees were found still lurking in her clothing.

A healthy, grown adult can safely handle 10 stings per pound of body weight, according to the US Department of Agriculture. That means the average adult can handle around 1100 stings--however, a small child under 50 pounds could be seriously injured, even killed, by 500 stings. Elderly people with poor cardiopulmonary functioning are especially vulnerable to multiple sting attacks.

At least 40 people die every year in the US from insect and bee stings. So what should you do if you run into a swarm of bees? Turns out, your basic instincts like freezing, swatting or jumping into a lake may actually make your problem worse.

This "Bee Attack Survival Guide" from The Survivors Club can help you survive a bee attack. Should you find yourself being attacked by bees, these tips could save your life:

1. Don’t Freeze – Run Like Heck. It may sound harsh, but the USDA advises, "Do not stop to help others. However, small children and the disabled may need some assistance."
2. Don’t Swat – You’re Outnumbered. Don’t even flail our arms. "Bees are attracted to movement and crushed bees emit a smell that will attract more bees," according to the USDA.
3. Cover your face. While you’re escaping, the USDA recommends that you "pull your shirt up over your head to protect your face, but make sure it does not slow your progress. This will help keep the bees from targeting the sensitive areas around your head and eyes." Don’t stop running till you find shelter. "A few bees may follow you indoors ... However, if you run to a well-lit area, the bees will tend to become confused and fly to windows."
4. Don’t jump in a lake. Believe it or not, "The bees will wait for you to come up for air," the USDA says. "If you are trapped for some reason, cover up with blankets, sleeping bags, clothes, or whatever else is immediately available."
5. Remove all stingers. As soon as you’re safe, remove any stingers very carefully. Do not pull stingers out with tweezers or your fingers, the USDA warns. "This will only squeeze more venom into the wound. Instead, scrape the stinger out sideways using your fingernail, the edge of a credit card, a dull knife blade or other straight-edged object."
6. 15 is the Magic Number. "If you have been stung more than 15 times, or are feeling ill," the USDA says, "or if you have any reason to believe you may be allergic to bee stings, seek medical attention immediately."

You can also help prevent bee stings. The Massachusetts woman who fell on the yellowjacket nest learned the hard way, that bees sting in order to defend their hive from an intruder. "When honeybees attack in large," the USDA says, "they are defending their colony. A bee will rarely sting when it is away from the colony foraging on pollen, nectar or water. However, a bee may sting if it is handled roughly (swatted at or stepped on), or feels alarmed in any way. Generally, if you leave a bee alone, it will leave you alone."

For more on what to do if you or someone you are with gets badly stung, check out these First Aid Tips from About.com.

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