Allergic Reaction to bee Allergic Reaction to bee stingsstings

What is an allergic reaction?What is an allergic reaction?

► An allergic reaction occurs when we eat An allergic reaction occurs when we eat certain types of food or take medications that certain types of food or take medications that our body does not recognise and fights our body does not recognise and fights against them. An allergic reaction can also against them. An allergic reaction can also occur if we are bitten by some insects, occur if we are bitten by some insects, especially bees.especially bees.

► E.g. Some people have mild reaction and have E.g. Some people have mild reaction and have swollen lips or face after eating food such as swollen lips or face after eating food such as crabs. Others can have a severe reaction crabs. Others can have a severe reaction resulting in difficulty breathing and collapsing.resulting in difficulty breathing and collapsing.

What are the signs & What are the signs & symptoms?symptoms?

► In a mild reaction you can experience In a mild reaction you can experience itchiness all over the skin, swollen lips, itchiness all over the skin, swollen lips, swollen tongue or even the whole face.swollen tongue or even the whole face.

► In a severe reaction you can In a severe reaction you can experience dizziness, difficulty experience dizziness, difficulty breathing, vomiting and breathing, vomiting and unconsciousness.unconsciousness.

How can I know if I am allergic How can I know if I am allergic to something or not?to something or not?

►There are specialised test that can be There are specialised test that can be done to find out if anyone is allergic to done to find out if anyone is allergic to something or not.something or not.

►We can not do those tests on site at We can not do those tests on site at present because they must be done in present because they must be done in a hospital setting by specialist medical a hospital setting by specialist medical officers.officers.

►Most people know if they are allergic or Most people know if they are allergic or not to food, drugs, bee stings etc by not to food, drugs, bee stings etc by experience.experience.

Important to remember!Important to remember!

►Because we cannot test for allergic Because we cannot test for allergic reactions on site and most people may reactions on site and most people may not know if they are allergic to not know if they are allergic to something or not, working in remote something or not, working in remote settings like the Frieda River Project, settings like the Frieda River Project, can be very dangerous.can be very dangerous.

Risk assessment for allergic Risk assessment for allergic reaction during field workreaction during field work

►Stings from bees, wasps and hornets Stings from bees, wasps and hornets pose the greatest risk during field pose the greatest risk during field work.work.

►However, mosquito bites, leeches, However, mosquito bites, leeches, sand flies and other insects can also sand flies and other insects can also cause an allergic reaction.cause an allergic reaction.

►A FULL RISK ASSESSMENT MUST BE A FULL RISK ASSESSMENT MUST BE DONE BEFORE ANY FIELD WORK.DONE BEFORE ANY FIELD WORK.

Reducing risk during field Reducing risk during field workwork

► Appropriate PPEs must be worn at all times.Appropriate PPEs must be worn at all times.► The buddy system must be observed at all The buddy system must be observed at all

times.times.► Be familiar with the protocol for initiating the Be familiar with the protocol for initiating the

emergency response procedure and identify emergency response procedure and identify the nearest helipad.the nearest helipad.

► Carry a radio at all times.Carry a radio at all times.► Consult site doctor and carry a medical kit Consult site doctor and carry a medical kit

containing the following when doing field containing the following when doing field work:work: Insect repellent sprays/ointments.Insect repellent sprays/ointments. Phernegan tablets.Phernegan tablets. Epipen injection or adrenaline injection.Epipen injection or adrenaline injection.

Initiating the emergency Initiating the emergency response procedureresponse procedure

►Use channel XX and call: “Emergency, Use channel XX and call: “Emergency, Emergency, Emergency”.Emergency, Emergency”.

►When the logistic advisor responds, When the logistic advisor responds, give the following details:give the following details: Your nameYour name Your locationYour location Describe the situationDescribe the situation Type of help requiredType of help required

First aid treatment for an First aid treatment for an allergic reaction to bee stingallergic reaction to bee sting

►Remove the offending agent. In most Remove the offending agent. In most cases the allergic reaction occurs 10-20 cases the allergic reaction occurs 10-20 minutes after the bee sting so it won’t minutes after the bee sting so it won’t be possible.be possible.

► If you are allergic to bee sting, tell your If you are allergic to bee sting, tell your co-worker that you have been stung by co-worker that you have been stung by a bee and that you are allergic to bee a bee and that you are allergic to bee stings.stings.

►Move to the nearest helipad.Move to the nearest helipad.

Field medical treatment for an Field medical treatment for an allergic reaction to bee stingallergic reaction to bee sting

► If you know you are allergic to bee If you know you are allergic to bee stings and you are carrying Phernergan stings and you are carrying Phernergan tablets, take one tablet as soon as you tablets, take one tablet as soon as you are stung by the bee. are stung by the bee. DO NOT TAKE DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN ONE TABLET WITHOUT MORE THAN ONE TABLET WITHOUT CONSULTING THE SITE DOCTOR!CONSULTING THE SITE DOCTOR!

►Call the site doctor on channel 3 and Call the site doctor on channel 3 and inform him/her of what happened.inform him/her of what happened.

►Further course of action will be advised Further course of action will be advised by the site doctor.by the site doctor.

When to use Epipen and When to use Epipen and adrenaline in the fieldadrenaline in the field

► Epipen and adrenaline injection must be used if the Epipen and adrenaline injection must be used if the allergic reaction is severe (i.e. dizziness, difficulty allergic reaction is severe (i.e. dizziness, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness) or on advice from the breathing, unconsciousness) or on advice from the site doctor over the radio.site doctor over the radio.

► Wait 10 minutes after the bee sting and if Wait 10 minutes after the bee sting and if symptoms begin to appear e.g. feelings of dizziness symptoms begin to appear e.g. feelings of dizziness and nausea then injection medication can be used.and nausea then injection medication can be used.

► If you know you are allergic to bee stings then:If you know you are allergic to bee stings then: You can inject yourself with the Epipen or adrenaline You can inject yourself with the Epipen or adrenaline

injection if you are confident in injecting yourself.injection if you are confident in injecting yourself. If you are not confident, ask a co-worker who is confident If you are not confident, ask a co-worker who is confident

to give you the medication.to give you the medication. Inject the medicine into the front of the thigh muscle.Inject the medicine into the front of the thigh muscle.

ConclusionConclusion

►Allergic reactions can be mild or Allergic reactions can be mild or severe.severe.

►Mild reactions are self-limiting and not Mild reactions are self-limiting and not life-threatening.life-threatening.

►Severe reactions are dangerous as it Severe reactions are dangerous as it can be fatal.can be fatal.

►Being prepared in the field will reduce Being prepared in the field will reduce the risk of fatality.the risk of fatality.