Saturday, October 19, 2002
The firefighter was recognized by trustees for his efforts.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Joe Rosky and Rob Ariza planned to spend a Saturday off in late September relaxing on the golf course.
The two township firefighters met early at the Tanglewood Golf Course. By 8:30 a.m. they were milling around in the parking lot talking to friends ready to play, but the unexpected changed the course of the day.
Rosky was stung by a bee on the back of the neck. The firefighter, who had been stung on numerous occasions in the past, decided to self-treat the sting and continue on with the game, but within minutes, he started to get dizzy and passed out. For a short time he had stopped breathing.
"I had no idea I was that allergic to bees," Rosky said. "I have been stung before and it just turns red and itches a little. I go home and use some Benadryl and mix some baking soda to take the itch off. That usually works."
Home remedies, however, would not be enough to control the sting this time. In fact, Rosky would need a remedy given to him by his physician long ago after another bee sting on the golf course.
Three years ago Rosky was stung and used his usual methods of controlling the sting, but on a previously scheduled visit to the doctor, he was told to take the injury more seriously. The physician gave him an Epi-pen for future bee stings.
Convenient storage
Rosky took the epinephrine and put it in the bottom of his golf bag, making mention of it at a later time to fellow firefighters including Ariza. Ariza, a trained paramedic, remembered where the lifesaving pen was and put it, and his training, to use.
"He was practically lying on me in the golf cart and his throat was closing. I knew I had to get his airway open," said Ariza.
Ariza laid his friend down on the ground and tilted his head back. He found the pen inside the golf bag and injected it into the leg of an unconscious and fading Rosky.
Within minutes, Rosky began to regain consciousness and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was checked and released.
"Obviously I was pretty lucky and I am glad that Rob was there and has the training to handle the situation," said Rosky.
Rosky received a proclamation honoring his efforts from township trustees, but he jokingly says golf with Rosky is now out of the question.
A pharmaceutical Web site dealing with bee stings estimates that 5 million to 10 million people in the United States are allergic to such stings with about 50 deaths each year directly attributed to bee stings.
jgoodwin@vindy.com