Gyeonggi Fire Department Raises Bee Sting Alert from 'Warning' to 'Alarm'

A firefighter is removing a beehive inside a house.

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters has raised the bee sting accident caution forecast to "alert" following a series of fatal bee sting incidents.

The Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters announced on the 14th that, after three deaths caused by bee sting accidents in the Gyeonggi area, it upgraded the bee sting caution issued on July 30th?the first this year?to an alert on the 7th.

Looking at bee sting accidents in the province over the past three years, there were 1,323 cases in 2018, 955 in 2019, and 1,111 in 2020, totaling 3,389 cases. Of these, 869 cases, accounting for 77%, occurred intensively between July and September.

This year, 657 cases have occurred up to the end of last month, resulting in three deaths.

The Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters attributes the concentration of bee sting accidents between July and September to an increase in people performing grass cutting and visiting ancestral graves for Chuseok, as well as a rise in hikers and outing visitors.

To prevent bee stings, it is advisable to wear bright-colored and long-sleeved clothing during outdoor activities to reduce exposure of arms and legs, and to avoid perfumes or strongly scented cosmetics. If you come into contact with a beehive, cover your head and quickly move at least 20 meters away.

If stung by a bee, promptly remove the stinger, disinfect or wash the affected area with clean water, and apply an ice pack to reduce pain.

Hong Jang-pyo, the Safety Officer at Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters, urged, "If stung by hornets or similar insects, allergic reactions can cause anaphylactic shock, which may lead to death within an hour. Please transport the victim to a hospital as quickly as possible or immediately call 119※."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.