Recently, we reported that firefighters from Trzebień had to deal with a hornet nest. Uniformed personnel from OSP Gromadka have had a similar intervention. As the firefighters report, they were dispatched to “remove stinging insects in the town of Gromadka.
What are the rules for reporting hazards posed by swarms or nests of stinging insects?
According to the website of the Republic of Poland, a person reporting an incident involving a swarm or nest should provide the following information, in addition to their first and last name (function or position) and the telephone number from which they are reporting the incident:
- the type of insects, if possible;
- their location, access to the swarm or nest, and the object concerned by the incident;
- whether there are hazards at the site associated with people present there, in particular whether groups of children (from preschools or schools) or people with limited mobility are present.
What should—and should not—be done when encountering a swarm or nest of stinging insects?
- Do not approach a nest or swarm closer than 20 m in open terrain, or leave the room in which the insects are located.
- Do not attempt to remove the swarm or nest yourself.
- Do not provoke the insects by throwing various objects at them or spraying them with water or insecticides.
- Warn people approaching the insects’ habitat about their presence.
