May 15, 2026
Version 1
Safety Protocol: Management of Honey Bee Stings in K–12 School Settings During Bee Hunting Sessions V.1
- Ariana I Rodriguez-Flores1,2,
- Lizbeth Alvarado-Vargas1,2,
- Cynthia Torres1,3,
- Elizabeth Bonano1,3,4,
- Jacqueline López-Vargas1,5,
- Brenda Estevez1,6,
- Michael Vegas Vázquez1,7,4,
- Brenda Mojica1,7,4,
- Jose Soto Sonera1,2,
- Isabel Delgado1,2,
- Joseph Carroll1,2,
- Jaime Abreu1,2,
- Agustín Corchado1,2,
- Tugrul Giray1,2,
- Jose Agosto-Rivera1,2
- 1Arecibo C3 Project;
- 2University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus;
- 3Escuela Pedro Falú Orellano;
- 4Departamento de Educación de Puerto Rico;
- 5American Military Academy, High School;
- 6Departamento de Educación de Puerto Rico, Región Educativa de Mayagüez, Puerto Rico;
- 7Escuela Superior Rosalina Caraballo de Martínez, Puerto Rico
Protocol Citation: Ariana I Rodriguez-Flores, Lizbeth Alvarado-Vargas, Cynthia Torres, Elizabeth Bonano, Jacqueline López-Vargas, Brenda Estevez, Michael Vegas Vázquez, Brenda Mojica, Jose Soto Sonera, Isabel Delgado, Joseph Carroll, Jaime Abreu, Agustín Corchado, Tugrul Giray, Jose Agosto-Rivera 2026. Safety Protocol: Management of Honey Bee Stings in K–12 School Settings During Bee Hunting Sessions . protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bp2l6jjprvqe/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: May 14, 2026
Last Modified: May 15, 2026
Protocol Integer ID: 317148
Keywords: management of honey bee sting, effective response to any honey bee sting, immune response to bee venom, honey bee sting, monitoring of wild honey bee colony, bee hunting curriculum, bee hunting session, bee venom, wild honey bee colony, safety protocol, risk of severe allergic reaction, safety of all participant, severe allergic reaction, safety, purpose of this protocol, immune response, anaphylaxi, later complications such as infection, este protocolo busca
Funders Acknowledgements:
National Science Foundation
Grant ID: 2321759
National Science Foundation
Grant ID: 2321760
National Science Foundation
Grant ID: 2321761
USDA-OPPE (NIFA)
Grant ID: AO242501X443G006
Abstract
As stated in the original document, “El objetivo de este protocolo es garantizar la seguridad de todos los participantes durante las actividades de campo…” and “Este protocolo busca: 1) Responder de manera rápida…”.
The purpose of this protocol is to ensure the safety of all participants during field activities related to the identification and monitoring of wild honey bee colonies within the Bee Hunting curriculum.
This protocol aims to:
- Provide a rapid and effective response to any honey bee sting.
- Reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).
- Prevent excessive inflammation, which is an immune response to bee venom.
- Minimize physical discomfort and avoid later complications such as infections or systemic reactions.
Materials
Medications
- EpiPen (priority)
- Benadryl (oral tablets and topical cream, as preventive treatment)
- Hydrocortisone (to reduce inflammation)
- Triple antibiotic ointment
Bee sting extraction kit (stinger removal tool)
Responsibilities prior to fieldwork
Inform the entire school community about the Bee Hunting schedule and protocol during a faculty meeting or any other appropriate forum so they are aware of the project and when it will take place.
The project leads will discuss the following with the school nursing team:
The Bee Hunting schedule. A signed document will be provided and obtained from the nursing and psychology teams (school interdisciplinary team).
The activities that will take place during Bee Hunting sessions involving direct handling of honey bees (include link to the Bee Hunting protocol).
Details of the assent and consent forms approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and signed by parents or legal guardians.
Provide the nurse with the contact numbers of the parents/guardians of participating students.
Obtain the following information from the school:
School name
Location of the nursing office:
- Building
- ROom
Contact information for nursing personnel:
▪ Name
▪ Position
▪ Phone number
Nearest hospital:
- Name
- Adress
- Phone number
Request the school’s signed student medical insurance form to have it available in case the student needs to be transported to a hospital when the school nurse is absent.
For Students with Known Bee Sting Allergies
Students with known allergies will not be allowed to interact directly with bees unless they use professional beekeeping protective equipment and a liability waiver and authorization are obtained from the parent or legal guardian.
If the student cannot participate directly, teachers are encouraged to assign tasks related to data analysis and visualization.
For Students Potentially Allergic or Non-Allergic at the time of the sting
The teacher and research team must carry the bee sting management kit at all times.
Use the suction pump to remove the stinger without squeezing the venom sac.
Clean the affected area, apply triple antibiotic ointment to prevent infection, and then apply hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation.
If signs of severe allergic reaction are observed (excessive swelling and/or spreading to areas beyond the sting site, rash or irritation, warm areas)
Transport the student to the nursing office. The nurse will contact the parent or legal guardian to inform them of the situation.
The nursing staff will follow their established protocol, but the following is recommended:
Administer oral Benadryl when the reaction is not limited to the sting site, such as in cases of generalized itching or hives appearing in other parts of the body.
If there are signs of anaphylaxis or the student experiences difficulty breathing, extreme dizziness, or loss of consciousness, call 911 immediately.
Action Plan in the Absence of the School Nurse
Immediate activation of the first aid protocol:
Previously trained personnel (teachers or project leaders) must act immediately following the bee sting management protocol.
Use of the Emergency Kit:
Apply initial treatment according to the severity of the case (remove stinger, apply ice, administer antihistamines or EpiPen if necessary).
Emergency call (911):
If there are signs of anaphylaxis or the student experiences difficulty breathing, extreme dizziness, or loss of consciousness, 911 must be called immediately.
Contact the parent or legal guardian and explain the situation and the safety measures being taken with their child.
If the student requires medical attention, school personnel will follow the school’s protocol for transport to the nearest clinic or emergency room.
Incident report:
Document in writing all steps taken, names of personnel involved, time of the sting, symptoms observed, and actions taken.
Once the emergency is addressed, the case will be evaluated in coordination with the school nursing team to update procedures and improve future response.