Quick action by police saves bee-sting victim

Vernon - Decisive action by a Vernon Township policeman saved the life of a young man who went into anaphylactic shock after being stung by a bee at Mountain Creek Water Park. The incident happened around 11:20 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22. Called to the scene, Vernon Ptl. David Hering and the Vernon Township Ambulance Squad were dispatched to the scene. Arriving first, Bering found the 22-year-old male victim being tended to near the parking booth by Liz Houtsma Mountain Creek’s EMT/First Aid Supervisor. At that time, according to police, the patient’s body broke out in hives and his face began to swell, but he had no difficulty breathing. Hering administered oxygen to the man. According to police, within one to two minutes of Hering’s arrival, the man being to exhibit “life-threatening symptoms,” including “difficulty breathing, severe swelling of the tongue, and his throat began to swell and close.” “Hering made the decision to transport the patient to Saint Anthony’s Hospital in the rear of his police vehicle,” the Vernon police reported. “This decision ultimately saved the patient’s life.” As Hering and Houtsma began to place the man, whose identity was not released, into the back of his car. At that time, Sgt. Randy Mills arrived as back-up and assisted in transferring the patient. Houtsma stayed in the rear of the vehicle with the patient as Hering drove to St. Anthony’s Community Hospital in Warwick, N.Y. Mills also rode along. According to police a paramedic unit from St. Anthony’s met the patrol car on Route 94 en route to Warwick and paramedics “were able to neutralize the patient’s symptoms.” He was then transported to St. Anthony’s for further treatment and observation.