Bees Attack Resident and his 12-Year-Old Golden Retriever

On Sunday just before noon, July 5, Loma Linda firefighters responded to home of a 43-year-old male resident. He was in his backyard attempting to bathe his 12-year-old Golden Retriever, Daisy, who was sprayed by a skunk during the late hours of July 4. While bathing Daisy, both the man and the dog were attacked by a swarm of bees. Police estimated that Daisy was stung by over 100 bees, as well as her owner. The resident was hosed down with foam, enough to get him out of the area and into the back of an AMR unit. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Daisy was sprayed off as well, but was not doing well. Firefighters, who also suffered multiple stings, began treating Daisy with oxygen and administered Benadryl. She was placed in a San Bernardino County Sheriff deputy’s patrol car and taken to a local animal hospital. San Bernardino County Vector Control was called out to help control the massive swarm of bees. If you have a hive in your yard or near your home, call a professional to have it removed. Some hives may be deeply hidden in walls, trees, chimneys and roofs. Some bees are more aggressive than others and will swarm or sting if the hive is threatened. With minor bee stings, WebMD suggests these steps as treatment: 1. Remove the stinger. Scrape the area with a fingernail or use tweezers to remove it. Don't pinch the stinger-that can inject more venom. 2. Control swelling. Ice the area. If you were stung on your arm or leg, elevate it. Remove any tight-fitting jewelry from the area of the sting. As it swells, rings or bracelets might be difficult to remove. 3. Treat symptoms. For pain, take an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give aspirin to anyone under age 18. For itchiness, take an antihistamine. You can also apply a mixture of baking soda and water or calamine lotion. 4. Follow up. It might take 2-5 days for the area to heal. Keep it clean to prevent infection. If you are stung multiple times, or are displaying signs of an allergic reaction, WebMD suggests the following: 1. Call 911. Seek emergency care if the person has any of these symptoms or a history of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), even if there are no symptoms, like difficulty breathing or wheezing; tightness in the throat or a feeling that the airways are closing; hoarseness or trouble speaking; nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting; fast heartbeat or pulse; skin that severely itches, tingles, swells, or turns red; anxiety or dizziness; or loss of consciousness. 2. Inject epinephrine immediately. If the person has an anaphylaxis action plan from a doctor for injecting epinephrine and other emergency measures, follow it. Otherwise, if the person carries an epinephrine shot (it's a good idea to always carry two) or one is available: inject epinephrine if the person is unable to. If the person has a history of anaphylaxis, don't wait for signs of a severe reaction to inject epinephrine. Read and follow patient instructions carefully. Inject epinephrine into outer muscle of the thigh. Avoid injecting into a vein or buttock muscles. Do not inject medicine into hands or feet, which can cause tissue damage. If this happens, notify emergency room staff. The person may need more than one injection if there's no improvement after the first. For an adult, inject again after 10 to 20 minutes. For a child, inject again after 5 to 30 minutes. A person should always go to the ER after an epinephrine injection, even if the symptoms subside. 3. Do CPR if the person stops breathing. For a child, start CPR for children. For an adult, start adult CPR. 4. Follow up. Make sure that someone stays with the person for 24 hours after anaphylaxis in case of another attack. Report the reaction to the person's doctor.