Africanized Honey Bees PDF Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District

Standard Operating Procedure Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Supplemental Manual 502 Africanized Honeybee Incidents 502.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE: The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to outline a process by which Fire Rescue personnel will approach and manage an Afric...

Standard Operating Procedure Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Supplemental Manual 502 Africanized Honeybee Incidents 502.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE: The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to outline a process by which Fire Rescue personnel will approach and manage an Africanized Honeybee (AHB) incident. This SOP will supersede any District General Orders. 502.2 RESPONSIBILITIES: (a) DISPATCH: 1. (b) 1. When the Dispatch Center receives a call for AHB attack, the following personnel/units should be dispatched as a minimum: (a) An Incident Commander (b) One (1) Engine (c) One (1) ALS medical unit (d) Police units, as needed, to establish an outer perimeter All responding fire and medical units shall don protective equipment prior to leaving the apparatus (full bunker gear, Seth Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) with mask, gloves, firefighting (Nomex/PBI) hood (NO HELMET). They shall precede hot (lights and sirens) to the scene and arrive, being careful not to commit themselves in the path of the source of bees. After arriving on scene, the incident commander should: (a) Determine if there are any victims who will require rescue and/or medical treatment. (b) Stage the Engine 150 ft. from the patient. (c) Stage the Med Unit 300 ft. behind the Engine. (d) Establish a 400 ft. perimeter (Hot Zone) around the area. (e) Have police establish an 800 ft. (Warm Zone) around the area. (f) NOTE: Unlike Hazardous Material, fire and other incidents where fire companies can arrive up-hill or up-wind of the scene to minimize exposure, an aggravated AHB colony will "hunt" out invaders. Therefore, it is vital that all personnel have their protective equipment on prior to exiting the vehicle. (c) APPROACH: 1. Initial approach to the victim: Firefighters should go to the victim with a water can filled with a solution of Dawn liquid soap or foam and water. Spray down the patient with the soapy solution and as quickly as possible bring the patient to the fire apparatus where one quick-attack 1-3/4" hose line with a minimum length of 150 ft. shall be hooked to the apparatus foam system and pumped at a 6% mix ratio. 2. The hose line shall be pulled at a quick pace towards the patient with a full fog pattern on the nozzle, sweeping the air surrounding the firefighters and patient. Firefighters may use a towel or similar cloth to sweep bees clear of the patient's face and airway. Then use the cloth to protect the patient's face/airway. The foam shall continue to be sprayed into the air and on the firefighters and patient while the firefighters retreat to approximately 300 ft. to the rear of the medical unit. (d) 1. Since an aggravated hive of Africanized Honeybees is considered a public health threat, the colony will need to be destroyed. To prevent extensive damage to structures, it is not recommended to flood any cavity in a structure with foam. A pest control company or professional bee remover should be called to destroy or remove the colony. (e) PATIENT CARE: Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/05/22, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Africanized Honeybee Incidents - 1 Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Supplemental Manual Africanized Honeybee Incidents 1. Patients requiring medical attention: refer to the current EMS Treatment Guidelines. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/05/22, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Africanized Honeybee Incidents - 2