HomeMy WebLinkAbout202.007a - Honey Bee Emergencies
Fresno City Fire Department
200 Standard Operating Procedures Manual
SECTION 202.007a HONEY BEE EMERGENCIES
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to give Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department)
members a guideline for responding to emergencies involving Honey Bees.
APPLICATION
This section intentionally left blank.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
The following will apply when responding to Honey Bee emergencies:
1.Stop at a safe distance to evaluate the incident.
2.Establish a command post in a safe area away from the incident (several
hundred feet).
3.Isolate and establish a safe area.
4.Do not disturb the swarm if no victims are present. Advise the resident to stay
away from the swarm. A swarm of bees in the open will disperse in a few hours.
European bees are virtually harmless and should not be killed. Africanized
bees are aggressive; not killing all of them quickly will have a negative impact
on the scene.
5.Determine if further resources are needed (Emergency Medical Service [EMS]
or Police Department).
6.Evacuate all potential victims from the bee area.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
This section intentionally left blank.
Kevin Reynolds, Captain Section 202.007a Effective Date: October 2007
Current Revision Date: 09/09/20
Next Revision (1) Date: 09/09/20 Page 1 of 3
PROCESS
Rescue Procedures
1.Don full turnouts, hood, gloves, and self -contained breathing apparatus
(SCBA). The use of duct tape to seal off the wrist and ankle areas is
recommended.
2.Deploy a reel line, 1-1/2-inch or 1-3/4-inch line. Depending on the size of the
swarm and the number of people attacked, a second attack line may be
necessary. Direct a fog stream on and around the victim(s). Then, utilizing a
wide-fog pattern, the hose stream should be directed into the air above the
victim(s). This effort should knock the bees out of the air. The addition of a
wetting agent (Pyrocap, AFFF, or a water wetter) to the water supply should
effectively suffocate the bees.
Emergency Medical Attention
1.Wash bees from victim(s).
2.Remove victim(s) to a safe treatment area.
3.Scrape any remaining stingers fromthe victim’s skin (using a plastic credit card,
or similar item).
4.Release the victim to EMS personnel for additional medical care and transport
to a medical facility.
Notifications
1.Notify appropriate law enforcement agency.
2.Notify the Fresno County Department of Agriculture at 559-600-7510, or
communications center for a list of bee handlers.
3.Notify Fresno County Health Department at 559-600-3200.
4.Notify Central California SPCA if animals are involved at 559-233-7722.
Kevin Reynolds, Captain
Section 202.007a
Effective Date: October 2007
Current Revision Date: 09/09/20
Next Revision (1) Date: 09/09/202 Page 2 of 3
INFORMATION
AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES
Nest in small cavities and sheltered areas, such as old tires, lumber piles,
sheds, holes in buildings, etc.
Sense a threat from people or animals 50 feet or more from their nest.
Sense vibrations from power equipment 100 feet or more from the nest.
Pursue an enemy 1/4-mile or more away from the nest.
Africanized Honey Bees were introduced into the United States through Texas in 1990
and are spreading to other southern states and California.
The Africanized Honey Bee is closely related to the European Honey Bee used in
agriculture for crop pollination and honey production. The two (2) types of bees look
the same and their behavior is similar in many respects. Neither is likely to sting when
gathering nectar and pollen from flowers, but both will sting in defense if provoked.
A swarm of bees in flight or briefly at rest seldom bother people. However, all bee s
become defensive when they settle, begin producing wax combs, and raising young.
Africanized Honey Bees are very similar in appearance but are less predictable and
more defensive than European Honey Bees. They are more likely to protect and
defend a gr eater area around the nest. They react faster and in greater numbers.
These bees will sting in defense, can only sting once, and have similar venom as the
European Honey Bees.
DEFINITIONS
This section intentionally left blank.
CROSS-REFERENCES
No cross-references recognized.
Kevin Reynolds, Captain
Section 202.007a
Effective Date: October 2007
Current Revision Date: 09/09/20
Next Revision (1) Date: 09/09/202 Page 3 of 3