JAYSON ALLAN
Regional Health Command – Atlantic (Provisional)
Fort Meade, Maryland
So there I was, enjoying a hike through the woods in the Appalachian Mountains on a hot summer day. I’d been searching for hours for exotic and non-native species of plants with two co-workers when I stumbled over what appeared to be at first glance a large, round rock. Upon further investigation, I realized the rock was actually a rather large box turtle. I was excited about the impromptu photo opportunity with the little guy, but he was less than receptive. I tried every trick in the book to lure him out of his shell to no avail. He was not budging, and my gleeful intrigue quickly turned to frustration. That’s when I let my emotions get the better of me!
Dejected that the reptile didn’t want to cooperate, I swung my steel-toed boot into the side of a nearby downed tree. A large thud echoed through the forest and suddenly I realized the error of my ways. The first thing I felt was a sting on the back of my neck, followed by another on my ear. I spun around, wondering what on earth was going on, and then I heard them. Hundreds of angry bees, perturbed because I had unknowingly kicked a hole in the side of their home, were after me.
I attempted to swat away the bees, but a few precise stings to the back of my neck brought me to my knees. I rolled on the ground like my clothes were on fire but this didn’t do anything but make them angrier. I quickly decided my only option was to get as far away from the scene as I could. I began running through the trees, but I just couldn’t get any separation from them. They were all over my shirt, jeans and hat.
I remembered a creek we had passed a few hundred yards back and decided it was my only hope. I continued running as fast as my legs would allow. I finally reached the edge of the creek, careful to not break my neck on any of the large rocks, and jumped in, bee-covered clothes and all. I rolled around under the cold water, hoping it would deter the angry bees from any last-ditch stinging attempts. When I emerged from the water, I was tired, sore and, thankfully, alone.
When it was all said and done, I’d received 35 stings on various parts on my body — the worst being my left ear, which received eight stings alone. I was cold and wet, and my pride was badly bruised. Once my adrenaline had dissipated, I began to feel the effects of the large volume of bee venom now streaming through my body. Fortunately, our emergency kit, which was located in the truck, had a bottle of Benadryl in it. After a few sips, the antihistamine kicked in and I started feeling better.
I let my emotions get the best of me that day. Add to that my unfamiliarity with the environment and it led to very dangerous event. If I had just remained calm and surveyed the situation, I would have noticed the gigantic bee hive, or at least seen the flying bees just a few feet in front of me.
I learned a few things from this experience. First, it doesn’t matter how comfortable you are in the great outdoors. One lapse in judgment can turn a seemingly serene situation into a disaster. I was lucky I wasn’t allergic to bees, although I didn’t even know it before that day. Second, I learned to never trust a turtle. To this day I’m convinced he set me up and was working as an accomplice to the dastardly bees. (OK, so maybe that one is a stretch.) Finally, I’m grateful for the first aid kit and Benadryl we kept in the truck. Both were quite helpful. With no hospital or EpiPen in sight, the sheer volume of bee stings could have turned a nice, relaxing walk through the woods into a tragic event.
FYI
According to Backpacker magazine, there are many pre-packaged first aid kits on the market. Here are some items kits should contain for most types of hikes:
- Tweezers
- Safety pins
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic towelettes
- Wound closure strips
- Moleskin or duct tape for blisters
- Band-Aids
- ACE bandage
- Bandana (for splints)
- Ibuprofen
- Antihistamine
- Gatorade powder drink mix (for emergency electrolytes and energy)
Also, for a survival/first aid kit:
- Signal device (whistle or mirror)
- Safety matches/fire starter
- Mylar blanket