Prayers and Condolences to the Family:
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=29961123&nid=148 (http://www.ksl.com/?sid=29961123&nid=148)
Quote from: sc-bee on May 20, 2014, 08:11:50 AM
Prayers and Condolences to the Family.
Amen, so sad. I have to remind myself that my bees aren't tame or pets.
Terribly sad. :'( It amazes me how the temperament of a hive can change from one visit to the next due to factors we're not aware of. Prayers for the family.
31, bless her heart she was just getting started in life. My prayers go to her loved ones as well.
it is sad. you never know when you are going to have a serious reaction and that many stings....
which brings to mind something that's been bugging me...
-begin lecture-
I have observed a fair number of experienced beekeepers encouraging others to skip protection. generally, it's things like gloves, but also making statements like "I just wear a t-shirt and shorts....".
we all make choices based on our own experience, but we need to remember that new beekeepers come here for advice. if we make them feel that they are not REAL beekeepers until they can dance naked in front of the hive and take the stings, we are doing them (and anyone watching) a great disservice! :-D
i'm also seeing a bunch of the new folks skipping the smoke. don't know who's telling them to do that!
-end lecture-
:evil:
That is sad. We all need to keep this in mind. I would probally have gone back out with just 30-40 stings also.
Jim
I was helping a lady this weekend who's father had recently died. The father was an older retired beekeeper and she was just starting to get into it. When she showed me his gear I asked, "Where's your smoker?" She said he didn't have one and didn't use one. I told her the most important piece of equipment other than a veil and hive tool is a smoker. Without smoke a veteran (newbee too) is foolish to work bees. You may get away with it a few times but when they decide to defend their hive you'll quickly realize your on a trapeze without a net.
I don't care what anyone thinks I suit up. I hate getting stung, I swell up way too much. It just isn't worth it.
Marktrl; I'm living proof bees seek out certain folks just so they can sting them. The most I've ever got stung in one day was five times.
I've just started working without gloves. If they hit me three or four times on the hands, gloves go back on. In certain areas of my body I swell up as well. Other places some, and yet other places not at all.
Just a short story
My friend Shawna was extremely impressed with the great number of beekeepers who go without gloves so she decided to give them up. One day when she was helping me with my hives, she got stung on her hand. No big deal she said.
Later on that night I found out she had broken out in hives all over her body and wasn't feeling to great. Her husband was ready to take her to the hospital. Although nothing more happened, she decided she should wear gloves for now on.
I understand how wonderful it is not to wear protection when working with bees, but you never know what the next sting will do.
I cover up from top to bottom and feel safer this way.
'Finally read the article. My sincerest condolences.
Sad, and a bit scary. I almost always suit up. I usually get stung a handful of times every year, fiddling around the hives. Last year I got zinged almost 50 times in one day, through my suit, before retreating for more under layers. MSG & water neutralizes most stings within minutes, for me (lucky I'm not allergic to MSG.)
Too bad epi-pens are so expensive. Or that we can't buy them in bulk and all have one in the kit, just in case! This goes to show that the cost of one might be relatively low, considering the possible consequences.
What a tragedy :'(
I'd have to check but I think we only paid $22.50 for ours and considering the cost of other equipment it doesn't seem high. But we do have insurance.
Here is a link to a coupon that may help.
https://activatemysavings.com/epipen/
Quote from: kathyp on May 20, 2014, 12:44:32 PM
it is sad. you never know when you are going to have a serious reaction and that many stings....
which brings to mind something that's been bugging me...
-begin lecture-
I have observed a fair number of experienced beekeepers encouraging others to skip protection. generally, it's things like gloves, but also making statements like "I just wear a t-shirt and shorts....".
we all make choices based on our own experience, but we need to remember that new beekeepers come here for advice. if we make them feel that they are not REAL beekeepers until they can dance naked in front of the hive and take the stings, we are doing them (and anyone watching) a great disservice! :-D
i'm also seeing a bunch of the new folks skipping the smoke. don't know who's telling them to do that!
-end lecture-
:evil:
Thanks Kathy. I always smoke then give them 3-5min to react. Always wear your gear. Every video I watch with folks who make a living with bees show them in full gear. Taking chances well it's up to you.
So sad. :'( 30 to 40 stings seems like a lot to me. If I get a dozen, I quit for the day. I take most of my stings harvesting honey; but you never really know when a hive is going to get nasty. I agree with the sentiments KathyP and others expressed. There is no need to be lax around the bees just because you see people on the internet doing it. Lots of things on the internet I don't repeat. Give the bees respect, wear protective clothing, and use smoke.
It was indeed tragic! Not to be insensitive to the situation above but what happened to the camp of people that say it is better to take a few stings. 30 or 40 at once no. You here it on here all the time, someone says I got stung and I am swollen huge and the remark is usually after a few stings your sensitivity will be less to stings? Or the group of folks that say it is better to work bees without gloves etc.
I definitely am not trying to prove anything or be macho but I usually don't suit full up. I guess that depends on what you call suit full up. Always a veil and usually at least a full set of sleeveless coveralls. This is really due to the heat. I have an old jacket that is about shreds I sometimes put on if they are real mean. I always light the smoker and have it handy and judge their temperament as to need.
I am amazed when I hear folks say they worked bees all year and took 8 stings etc. Yesterday I probably took 8-10 with half being on the hands and fingers. Yea big clumsy hands. The others were on the arms. The bees really like me and if there are half dozen beekeepers in the yard I am the one they come after. Maybe I need to re-evaluate the need for that ultrabreeze.
I always suit up and I'm amazed when people talk about only taking 8 stings. I am a year into this hobby (so I still go into my hive too often :) and I have yet to take 8 stings total. I don't mind being stung but I sure don't like it either.I did buy a veil so I might try a veil and gloves someday but the one day in the past I tried it after the first two hives I chicken out and suited up as they seemed alittle bit excited.
that's tragic. i feel terrible for her family.
it seems like this thread has gotten off track from what the o.p. had intended but i'll chime in. i use smoke and wear a veil but i am a jeans and tee shirt person.
it's got nothing to do with being tough. down here the relative humidity frequently hovers around 85 percent and high temperatures are already in the 90's.
if you have more than a handful of hives to go through you run a bigger risk of heat stroke. even without the extra layer of clothing you have to be careful.
honestly, 100 stings from 1 hive sounds like a bigger problem than just being queenless. i went through a dozen hives the other day and one is queenless and i didn't get stung at all. my bees aren't particularly gentle in my opinion, just average.
the bigger dis-service is people selling beginners bees that shouldn't be kept by anyone.
Quote from: 10framer on May 22, 2014, 09:36:47 AM
that's tragic. i feel terrible for her family.
it seems like this thread has gotten off track from what the o.p. had intended but i'll chime in.
Yea the OP didn't help it stay on track any. I thought the same thing about the queenless statement.
I'm one of those Beekeepers that usually does not ware any protection. Like 10framer, the heat and humidity and a suit will kill you down here. One of the reasons that I got into beekeeping was to get stung to correct a problem that I had had with my shoulder. My second year with only 2 hives, I did not get stung and the problem came back. The following year with 12 hives, the shoulder problem was gone again.
According to one allergist, Beekeepers and there family should get at least one sting a month to keep from developing severe allergic reactions.
Jim
After reading this, I decided to get bite the bullet and get a couple epipens to keep around for emergencies. I downloaded the coupon that homesteader posted. THANKS SO MUCH! Unfortunately, I couldn't use it with my government insurance, however with insurance, the 2 pack only cost me $15.00. I had held off buying them because I heard they were so expensive. If you have insurance, why not get a couple! My doc wrote me the script no questions asked. Peace of mind is a good thing!
That's good info Dimmsdale. Thanks!
Quote from: sawdstmakr on May 23, 2014, 10:11:02 AM
According to one allergist, Beekeepers and there family should get at least one sting a month to keep from developing severe allergic reactions.
Jim
Jim, you remind me of something I have heard but never have I known anyone to confirm it. Anyway- if a beekeeper has someone in the family that is allergic, they can sometimes have a reaction just from handling clothing. equipment etc that has been exposed to bee venom. Ex. Washing a bee suit or jacket that has an amount of venom (for lack of a better word) built up on the outside of it over time.
Anyone ever heard of this? And yes I guess the OP is taking the thread off tracK??? But just curious?
Spoke to my internist yesterday during a routine exam and showed him my latest sting on my pinky finger. Caught the girl between my fingers while working a frame and she stung me. Was wearing polyproplene gloves and managed to get the stinger out by pullng on the glove, but the finer still swelled up. Doc said a few stings periodically is better than being stung every once in a while - apparently the more you're stung, the better your resistance is to the venom.
Anyways, its a darn shame what happened to that young lady and to her family, and especially her 6-year old daughter. To lose your mother so young is horrible. I pray the good Lord will keep them safe.
Quoteapparently the more you're stung, the better your resistance is to the venom.
for many people this is true, but not all. there are beekeepers who have been stung all their lives and suddenly develop a reaction. same can happen with anything, not just stings.
it's worth remembering that a bad reaction can happen to anyone, anytime, even with one sting. better to be prepared and never need it...
Quote from: sc-bee on May 23, 2014, 02:29:03 PM
Quote from: sawdstmakr on May 23, 2014, 10:11:02 AM
According to one allergist, Beekeepers and there family should get at least one sting a month to keep from developing severe allergic reactions.
Jim
Jim, you remind me of something I have heard but never have I known anyone to confirm it. Anyway- if a beekeeper has someone in the family that is allergic, they can sometimes have a reaction just from handling clothing. equipment etc that has been exposed to bee venom. Ex. Washing a bee suit or jacket that has an amount of venom (for lack of a better word) built up on the outside of it over time.
Anyone ever heard of this? And yes I guess the OP is taking the thread off tracK??? But just curious?
I read about this about a week or two, I think it was a thread here on Beemaster.
Jim
Auto correct sure can mess up a sentence.
According to our allergist anyone can have a severe reaction, even if they haven't reacted before, although it is a lot less likely if you've been stung in the past and not had a reaction. Everyone's body reacts differently. Some will become more sensitive with each exposure and others will build tolerance with each exposure.
Some allergens are different as well. For instance, environmental allergens such as pollen, dust, or mold tend to decrease when exposure is increased over time (allergy injections, they start with slight amounts and increase slowly), while most food allergies increase (become more severe) with each exposure. So if you have food allergies you try to not have any exposure and if you have environmental allergies you try to increase exposure over time.
I'm not sure where venom fits exactly however for me I seem to be reacting less severely with each exposure. I am trying to limit exposure to one or two stings at the most and only occasional exposure.
Very sad loss.
Quote from: Dimmsdale on May 23, 2014, 11:07:07 AM
After reading this, I decided to get bite the bullet and get a couple epipens to keep around for emergencies. I downloaded the coupon that homesteader posted. THANKS SO MUCH! Unfortunately, I couldn't use it with my government insurance, however with insurance, the 2 pack only cost me $15.00. I had held off buying them because I heard they were so expensive. If you have insurance, why not get a couple! My doc wrote me the script no questions asked. Peace of mind is a good thing!
don't forget that they have a relatively short shelf life (1 year maybe?). i know it's almost time for me to get new ones.
Quote from: sawdstmakr on May 23, 2014, 10:11:02 AM
I'm one of those Beekeepers that usually does not ware any protection. Like 10framer, the heat and humidity and a suit will kill you down here. One of the reasons that I got into beekeeping was to get stung to correct a problem that I had had with my shoulder. My second year with only 2 hives, I did not get stung and the problem came back. The following year with 12 hives, the shoulder problem was gone again.
According to one allergist, Beekeepers and there family should get at least one sting a month to keep from developing severe allergic reactions.
Jim
but no more than one or two.
the itch is un********able
I got the coupon and called my cardiologist and he call a script in for me . no cost at all to me . the pens have a shelf life of 9months. The coupon is good for unlimited quantities of refills till Dec 31st.. I'm picking a pack a month up till Dec. Both the adult and Jr. Dose. Just in case of a accidental contact by visitors. We have the good sumaritian law here so I am protected plus the apiaries are posted .
John
P.S. the pharmacy said that the shilf life if keep cool and out of the direct light that it would last up to 18 months just keep a I on the color of the drug.
QuoteP.S. the pharmacy said that the shilf life if keep cool and out of the direct light that it would last up to 18 months just keep a I on the color of the drug.
thanks, was going to post that. also, if all you have is some expired stuff and you need it, use it. even if it's not as strong as new, it's better than nothing. it doesn't magically turn into poison ;-)
I got attacked by a Rottweiler last fall and went to urgent care to get some stitches and a tetanus shot. It's been about 10 years since my last tetanus shot and doctors visit. So after getting stitched up, I asked the doc about getting some epipens. He said why? I said because I'm a bee keeper. He laughed and said I should look for a different career! We beeks don't get any respect. :laugh:
Anyways he tells me that in Michigan it is illegal for an unlicensed person to give another person a shot and hence he wouldn't and couldn't legally prescribe any for me. So I asked him what was the procedure in Michigan if somebody gets stung and has an allergic reaction. He said, get them to the ER as fast as possible; that was all we can legally do. He said the law as absolutely stupid in this regards, but it is what it is. I won't ruffle any feathers by mentioning again what party has total power in Lansing right now. :shock:
blue, i seriously doubt that law was written recently if it exists at all. who gives diabetic children insulin shots? you wouldn't be trolling with that one would you?
Nope, just reporting what the doc told me. Good question about the insulin though. I don't know.
Technically lots of things can only be performed by folks licensed by the state. And I'm sure those laws have been on the books for a LONG time. However that's no excuse for not correcting them IMO.
Quote from: BlueBee on May 26, 2014, 02:57:06 AM
Nope, just reporting what the doc told me. Good question about the insulin though. I don't know.
Technically lots of things can only be performed by folks licensed by the state. And I'm sure those laws have been on the books for a LONG time. However that's no excuse for not correcting them IMO.
Maybe you should change your political affiliation and get involved. LOL. I know that ain't gonna happen. :-D
i am sorry to hear about your loss
Quote from: BlueBee on May 26, 2014, 02:57:06 AM
Nope, just reporting what the doc told me.
The doc mentioned nothing about politics or who's in charge in Lansing. That was purely your spin, not actual reporting. It adds nothing to the conversation.