Man was in a life-and-death situation after being stung 20 times by a hive of bees. One simple medication saved his life.
When a person is in a life-or-death situation, every millisecond matters and everything one does in that time makes a difference. A man named Stanley Cizdziel experienced this firsthand when he was stung 20 times by a hive of bees, reported WGRZ. Given the severity of the attack, the man passed out. While he was struggling and his condition was worsening with every second, Cattaraugus County sheriff’s deputies Andrew Schumaker and Rachel Zimmer arrived in time to intervene with life-saving medication. It was their quick action and response that saved the man’s life.
Cizdziel was cutting trees with a friend when he was suddenly attacked by a hive of bees, as reported by the Post Journal. The duo ran away but Cizdziel was attacked and got stung. His friend recalled his face getting swollen and blue. The man was struggling to breathe and his friend immediately called 911. After being stung 20 times, he passed out due to an anaphylactic reaction. Dr. Brian Walters, the Medical Director for the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department, explained, "An anaphylactic reaction is a severe allergic reaction where minutes can make the difference between life and death if someone does not receive epinephrine.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, an anaphylactic reaction is caused by an allergy to certain foods or after being stung by an insect. It is a life-threatening situation that requires immediate attention. The only treatment for a reaction as such is an epinephrine or EpiPen. It is also noted that even after the EpiPen is administered, the victim must visit the emergency room as soon as possible. The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office began an EpiPen training program in the spring.
Sheriff Eric Butler, who started the EpiPen program, stated the importance of having officers well-versed with such emergency treatments. “Our deputies are always on the road patrolling rural areas of the county. Deputies often arrive on scene to medical emergencies before EMS is available. Providing our personnel with the training and resources to save lives in the community is our priority,” he said. The sheriff added, "We're not just here to enforce the law, we are here to protect the safety and welfare of all residents of the county.” The deputies are also trained to perform CPR and provide other first aid.
Deputies Schumaker and Zimmer arrived to attend to Cizdziel after his attack. The man was unconscious when the treatment was being administered. He was immediately given a shot with the EpiPen. Cizdziel was reportedly the first person to have an EpiPen administered to them by the department. "All I remember is waking up and seeing badges all around me," he recalled. The man was transported to the emergency room, where he was later treated. After a few hours of monitoring, he was luckily able to return home. He is ever grateful for the officer’s timely intervention and appropriate medication which were solely responsible for saving him. He has since made a full recovery from the event. "Honest to God, they saved my life," he said.