Utah Beekeeper Dies From Stings

sc-bee · May 20, 2014, 08:11:50 AM

Prayers and Condolences to the Family:

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=29961123&nid=148

RHBee · May 20, 2014, 10:38:10 AM

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.

AliciaH · May 20, 2014, 11:15:25 AM

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.

GSF · May 20, 2014, 11:27:01 AM

31, bless her heart she was just getting started in life. My prayers go to her loved ones as well.

Kathyp · 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:

BeeMaster2 · May 20, 2014, 01:06:01 PM

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

D Coates · May 20, 2014, 05:26:33 PM

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.

marktrl · May 20, 2014, 07:05:12 PM

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.

GSF · May 20, 2014, 10:23:46 PM

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.

annette · May 21, 2014, 12:51:00 AM

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.

Colobee · May 21, 2014, 01:58:45 PM

'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 :'(

HomeSteadDreamer · May 21, 2014, 03:01:26 PM

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/

RHBee · May 21, 2014, 06:41:06 PM

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.

BlueBee · May 22, 2014, 02:50:07 AM

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.

sc-bee · May 22, 2014, 06:32:14 AM

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.

HomeSteadDreamer · May 22, 2014, 08:47:31 AM

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.

10framer · 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. 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.

sc-bee · May 22, 2014, 12:37:59 PM

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.

BeeMaster2 · 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

Dimmsdale · 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!