Bee Stings Lead To Life-Threatening Allergic Reaction In Woodbury: PD

WOODBURY, CT — A local resident suffered a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction after being stung by bees multiple times Saturday, according to police.

Emergency personnel were summoned to the scene. A state trooper, Trooper Andrea Daniels, was the first to arrive and immediately determined the adult male patient was in severe anaphylaxis, police said.

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The trooper broadcast an urgent update over the radio detailing the severity of the patient's condition.

A Woodbury police officer, Mark DeFeo, who was on a minor, unrelated medical call, heard the transmission about the patient's critical state.

DeFeo said the trooper didn't have an EpiPen, epinephrine auto-injectors used to treat allergic reactions. He heard medics were coming from Waterbury, so he knew he had to act fast. He rushed to the scene to help.

"(The patient) wasn't able to talk and was in respiratory distress," DeFeo said. "I administered an EpiPen, and he started to come around."

According to DeFeo, local officers got EpiPens about a year ago, along with training on how to use them.

"The rapid delivery of epinephrine counteracted the allergic reaction, providing critical stabilization during the crucial minutes before advanced life support arrived," police said in an announcement.

Paramedics and ambulance personnel soon arrived to provide advanced emergency medical care and stabilize the patient. The man was taken to an area hospital for further treatment and evaluation, police said.

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The man's latest condition was not available as of Monday afternoon.

"​Woodbury Police officers carry vital, life-saving medical equipment in their patrol vehicles—including epinephrine auto-injectors, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and advanced trauma gear," police said. "In time-sensitive emergencies where every second counts, having these tools on hand enables officers to deliver immediate, life-saving interventions."