MONTHLY HIVE MAINTENANCE TIPS AND MEDICATIONS
Beekeeping generally is a very safe activity. Still, beekeeping presents a number of dangers of which the beekeeper should be aware. Prevention of harm is always to be valued above cure.
Bee Stings
We need to understand that a honey bee stings in an attempt to protect themselves or their colony.
Be prepared to receive stings and to overcome natural fears and apprehensions regarding stings.
Opportune Time to Work Bees
Open the hive on a dry, warm, sunny day with little wind. Most of the older bees will be away foraging between 10:00 a.m. and 4 p.m. Avoid cold, windy, or rainy days when they will be home.
What to Wear
Always wear a veil. Stings on the face are painful and you could have a permanent injury to the ear drum or eye if stung there. If a bee gets inside the veil, walk away from the apiary and remove the bee. Do not remove your veil in the apiary.
Use protective clothing. Wear white or light colored coveralls over regular clothing if it’s not too hot. Use boots and securely fasten the coveralls in or over the boots. If low shoes are worn, wear two pair of white socks. Tuck pants into socks, or tie with string, rubber bands or elastic. A windbreaker jacket will help avoid stings.
Use gloves sparingly. During unfavorable weather or when moving colonies, gloves are handy. Otherwise, you can manipulate colonies better and with a finer touch without gloves.
Do not wear dark or rough textured clothes. Beware of dark socks when boots are not used. Bees can grab hold of rough texture better then smooth surfaces. Avoid wool, suede or leather.
Keep veil, pant legs, and shirt sleeves bee tight. If a bee gets inside clothing, squeeze it in the clothing or walk from the apiary and open your clothes to allow the bee to escape.
Do not use sweet smelling cosmetics before handling bees. Bees may be attracted or irritated by such smells. Sweat may attract bees and lead to stings.
If a bee should land on you or crawl on your hands or clothing. Leave them alone or brush them away gently.
Cure the Harm
If a bee stings you or your clothing, calmly remove the stinger and smoke the area to mask the chemical alarm scent left behind. (This alarm pheromone can stimulate other bees to sting.) To remove the stinger, use your fingernail to scrape it off your skin. Don’t try to pinch the stinger off. That only squeezes the venom sack left behind by the bee and injects more venom. Apply a cold compress and take an antihistamine tablet (Benadryl). This alleviates the swelling, itching and discomfort.
Watch for allergic reactions. Experiencing redness, swelling and itching is completely natural. These are normal reactions. For a small percentage of individuals, more severe reactions can occur, including severe swelling beyond the immediate area of the sting, and shortness of breath. In the worse cases, reaction to bee stings can result in loss of consciousness or even death. This occurs in less than one percent of the population.
You may want to carry a bee sting kit, available by prescription, EpiPen. The kit automatically injects a dosage of epinephrine (adrenaline) for allergic emergencies.
Burns
Burns are most likely to occur when a beekeeper comes into close contact with the heat of the smoker.
However, sunburns and chemical burns should not to be taken lightly. Take proper protective action to prevent injury from the sun and read directions carefully when using chemicals.
Fire
Light the smoker away from your vehicle. Completely extinguish the smoker’s contents when finished. Be aware that a hot catalytic converter on your vehicle could start a fire in dry grass and brush.
Muscle Strain
Moving hives and hive components can be back-breaking work. Deep supers can weigh as much as 70 pounds or more when completely filled with honey. Use proper lifting techniques when lifting heavy hive components.
Pesticide Exposure
Beekeepers use a variety of pesticides to manage mites and the small hive beetle. Inappropriate use of various chemicals can result in exposure by any of four different ways: absorption, inhalation, ingestion or injection from puncture wounds. When handling toxic compounds, wear latex gloves to prevent absorption of chemicals through the skin. Even with gloves, hands should be washed after using these chemicals. Never contaminate honey intended for human consumption by unprincipled use of pesticides.
Credits: Safety in the Bee Yard by Carl Wenning & Tom Elston
Heart of Illinois Beekeepers’ Association
University of Maryland, Department of Entomology
Leaflet Number 101 Tips on How to Handle Bees
Beekeeping for Dummies by Howland Blackiston