A Johannesburg Paramedic has gone above the call of duty to make sure a little girl, highly allergic to bees, was safe while on a school outing.
Allan De Souza from SLA (Specialised Logistical Assistance) Paramedics accompanied Danny-Leigh on her school camp to make sure that she was safe but could still be a “normal kid on camp”.
As a generality, 5 percent of our population is highly allergic to honey bee venom. However, how they respond to stings varies. We think of allergic response as anaphylaxis, leading to inability to breathe and possible death. The statistics demonstrate that 1 percent of children and 3 percent of adults have endured such reactions.
Danny-Leigh falls in the 1 percent of children where a bee sting is lethal.
Lynne Slater took to Facebook to post a thank you note to Allan De Souza, the Paramedic who accompanied Danny-Leigh on the school camp.
“A BIG thank you to the SLA Paramedic Team and especially to Allan De Souza for accompanying our daughter Danni-Leigh on her school camp to Brits. Danni-Leigh is highly allergic to bees and if stung, requires paramedic intervention immediately.”
Danny-Leigh carries an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) on her at all times but the EpiPen only buys her minutes. An EpiPen is a medical device for injecting a measured dose or doses of epinephrine (adrenaline) by means of autoinjector technology. The effects of this medication are rapid but not long-lasting. After injecting with an EpiPen Danny-Leigh would need medical help right away.
“We nearly lost our daughter a few years ago when she was stung at her school Crawford Pre-Primary Lonehill. Thanks to the quick action of the teachers, the paramedics were on the scene within minutes. It took 5 paramedics to work on Danni-Leigh as she stopped breathing and went into full anaphylaxis.
You can only imagine the stress this allergy has on my husband and I and the logistical nightmare wherever we go to ensure she receives paramedic intervention immediately.
We are so deeply grateful to the SLA team for ALWAYS being there and for all their support. They never hesitate to accompany Danni-Leigh when needed on school outings. With their loyal support and the incredible support from her school Crawford Preparatory Lonehill, the Principal Mr. Ewen and Deputy Principal Mrs. Fernandes, our daughter gets to live a normal life and enjoy school outings as much as any other child.”
Lynne is hoping that her post will help educate others and maybe even save other lives.
“Anaphylaxis is real and frightening. If you know your child suffers from allergies whether it be bees, peanuts etc. contact SLA and find out what you can do to help your child.
Help educate your family, teachers and friends. You never know when you need it – trust me!”
When someone is allergic to insect stings, the body’s immune system, which normally fights infections, overreacts to proteins in the insect’s venom. When stung, the body sees these proteins as harmful invaders.
The immune system responds by working very hard to fight off the invader. This causes an allergic reaction, in which chemicals like histamine are released in the body. The release of these chemicals can cause someone to have these symptoms:
- wheezing
- trouble breathing
- coughing
- hoarseness
- throat tightness
- stomachache
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- itchy, watery, or swollen eyes
- hives
- red spots
- swelling
- itching
- a drop in blood pressure, causing lightheadedness or loss of consciousness
The reality is that accidents can happen at any time, anywhere. And SLA provide Clients with personalized and dedicated Emergency Medical Services. To contact SLA click here.
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