tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post4321124523458621282..comments2024-02-15T04:42:41.606+00:00Comments on James' Empty Blog: OwJames Annanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04318741813895533700noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-45305196400111948732013-10-03T02:53:48.250+01:002013-10-03T02:53:48.250+01:00Yes - it's very interesting. The air has been ...Yes - it's very interesting. The air has been thick with the smaller hornets around these parts. Climatologically spekaing, I have no idea why - it seemed like a very normal summer. One run to work thorugh the woods in August I decided to count, and got to 29 sightings (in about 6km). Far fewer now - only about 5 this morning, close to our local Zen temple..juleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02591920483149775255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-83506434746943385442013-10-02T19:39:27.486+01:002013-10-02T19:39:27.486+01:0041 dead in China from hornet stings.
http://www.bb...41 dead in China from hornet stings.<br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-24367050<br /><br />crfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726414637021391906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-6829166704684086222013-07-26T12:17:36.213+01:002013-07-26T12:17:36.213+01:00Take care James. On a brighter note, I notice your...Take care James. On a brighter note, I notice your trousers are the summer fashion hit at Uniqlo.<br />Shibuihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06536833424201383029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-28975301025594001432013-07-25T04:41:14.356+01:002013-07-25T04:41:14.356+01:00Yes! Though I was cycling at the time. Usually the...Yes! Though I was cycling at the time. Usually the hornets are not particularly hostile to innocent passers-by though, which is partly why the sting was a surprise.<br /><br />There'll be more hornet news shortly...James Annanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04318741813895533700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-28148055762823321392013-07-24T19:14:08.152+01:002013-07-24T19:14:08.152+01:00Was it anything like this?
http://theoatmeal.com/...Was it anything like this?<br /><br />http://theoatmeal.com/comics/running5bjamesjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14569076460884722659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-58624198590466891832013-07-24T03:41:24.003+01:002013-07-24T03:41:24.003+01:00I've been seeing quite a few of what I thought...I've been seeing quite a few of what I thought were wasps around in the woods near home this year. Had a good look at one this morning, and I think they are probably "yellow hornets". http://mushinavi.com/navi-insect/data-hati_suzume_kiiro.htm<br /><br />I had thought they were wasps as they are so much smaller and had brighter yellow stripes than the disntinctive giant hornet (which is unbelievably huge and sounds like a helicopter when it flies). But this morning's creature definitely had the bright yellow face and darker eyes of the hornetty things.<br /><br />It looks rather like what James says stung him, so my prior is that it was one of them. The reason for further investigation is that he was stung less than a km from home on a route we travel each day, so it seems to me less like a fluke once-in-ten-year happening but rather that there is likely a nest in the neighbourhood so caution is advised for all! <br />juleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02591920483149775255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-91475658847888988812013-07-23T16:54:40.298+01:002013-07-23T16:54:40.298+01:00My wife and two daughters have various forms of al...My wife and two daughters have various forms of allergies that can lead to anaphylaxis shock. Two of them have prescriptions for EpiPens. So unfortunately, I've had my share of experience with this.<br /><br />You might want to carry benadryl (diphenhydramine), tablet form, with you as a "first line of defense". It is fast acting and if you take it before you start reacting, the response will be much more mild. <br /><br />Were I you, I would discuss this with an allergy specialist, who could give you additional ("off the label") recommendations, and of course possibly an EpiPen. My daughter ended up going through a desensitization treatment protocol for wasp venom, and hasn't been back to the hospital since then.<br /><br />Of course anytime you have an immediate systemic response, you want to take this very serious and head to an emergency treatment facility. Even then, benadryl may buy you a bit of time getting to the hospital before the severe symptoms set in. (We are 15 minutes from the nearest hospital)<br /><br />Anyway very sorry for the sting. I suspect like everybody else, I've been thoroughly enjoying the photos you've shared.Carrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476050886656768837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-32002613572379958642013-07-23T14:07:13.868+01:002013-07-23T14:07:13.868+01:00I think the epi-pen would only be worth bothering ...I think the epi-pen would only be worth bothering with in the event of a blood test indicating a significant probability of an allergy: based on my (limited) reading, a large local reaction like I had is actually nothing to be worried about, but I'll talk to a doctor about it. Jules thinks she saw a wasp in the same locality today, which suggests a nest and a chance of identifying the (likely) species which would be helpful. At least the Japanese are generally quite clued up about this risk.James Annanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04318741813895533700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-39660424982168664832013-07-22T21:34:37.979+01:002013-07-22T21:34:37.979+01:0020 deaths a year! I sincerely hope that your post ...20 deaths a year! I sincerely hope that your post doesn't lead to an anxious Germany considering a giant airborne nicotinamide dump to permanently solve the deathly bee-sting problem and provide peace of mind. Bienenstich? Nein Danke!crfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726414637021391906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-50988227558891293552013-07-22T17:10:19.688+01:002013-07-22T17:10:19.688+01:00EPIpen
Good idea.
Or wear turtlenecks and full...EPIpen<br /><br />Good idea. <br /><br />Or wear turtlenecks and full face protection when cycling. You don't want to catch the next one above the shoulders, for sure.Hank Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07521410755553979665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-2192427223932043872013-07-22T14:45:52.350+01:002013-07-22T14:45:52.350+01:00My father had an allergy to wasp stings. I remembe...My father had an allergy to wasp stings. I remember something similar happening to him once, he was stung on the forearm and by the time the swelling was at maximum there was no way he could get standard long sleeved shirt over his arm.<br /><br />My mum became quite an expert wasp exterminator, able to crush them using the back of her thumbnail. <br /><br />Not sure that would work for one of the jumbo hornets though.Steve Crookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16515692806214127465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-75499645998087945732013-07-22T14:23:48.969+01:002013-07-22T14:23:48.969+01:00If wonder if it is worth carrying an Epipen from n...If wonder if it is worth carrying an Epipen from now on? I would worry a bit about explaining what had happened to a passerby or ambulance driver in Japanese if my throat was closing up from shock!Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04108945551064939734noreply@blogger.com