(Great video at story link!!) Joshua James slipped into a jumpsuit made of thick, heavy cloth and pulled on a beekeepers hat, net and full-length gloves.
The pest control specialist, who began his career after leaving the U.S. Army in 2012, was ready to go to battle with a hive that held thousands of yellow jackets.
The hive was nestled behind a row of azalea hedges and invisible at first glance. But I knew they were there, because just days earlier, while doing yard work on Sunday, Id awakened the colony, angering a swarm of yellow jackets that stung me between 20 and 30 times. The attack resulted in a trip to the emergency room and an IV push of several medications to counteract what doctors said was a large amount of poison running through my body.
As I lay on the ER gurney, the high dosage of Benadryl and other medications began to ease some of the symptoms such as the intense pain and muscle spasms, but weakness, joint pain and nausea would linger for days.
By Wednesday, Id started to recover, and it was time to rid my yard of the dangerous swarm.
Within seconds of James climbing behind the bushes, the yellow jackets - members of the wasp family - began flying out of a small hole in the ground and were soon swarming around him.
This is the largest hive I have ever seen, and there are a thousand or more of them in there, James said.
While spaying Delta Dust, an insecticide containing deltamethrin, into the hive, James said the hive was one that needed a professional.
People dont know if they are allergic or not, and this would definitely be a problem for someone with severe allergies, he said. Call a professional to handle something like this.
Dr. Steven Cooley, with East Texas Medical Center, said even a single sting from a yellow jacket or bee could prove fatal to someone with a severe allergy.
Cooley, who specializes in emergency medicine, said yellow jackets are far more aggressive than bees and their stings contain a stronger venom.
For most people, a sting, two, three or even four isnt a big deal, but for some, one sting can be life-threatening, he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 40 and 50 Americans die each year from bee or wasp stings.
James said only female yellow jackets sting, but unlike some other insects, they can sting multiple times.
Cooley said people receiving one or two stings can use a cold compress to reduce area swelling, take an over-the-counter pain reliever and have someone watch them for any signs of an allergic reaction.
If there are hives all over the body, this means there is a reaction, and if there is any difficulty breathing, then that could mean the airways are narrowing, which can cut off oxygen, he said.
Cooley said those who experience hives or difficulty breathing after being stung should go to an emergency room.
But there are people who are not allergic who might get stung in the face and neck area, and that can cause swelling and also cut off the air supply, he said.
Cooley said people stung in excess of 10 times should also seek emergency services as the amount of poison could present a problem.
You have seen these shows where someone stung an abundance of times has died, and that isnt necessarily due to an allergic reaction, but just the abundance of poison in the body, he said.
He also said someone stung could suddenly develop an allergy to the insect, but the only way to know for sure would be to undergo testing with an allergist.
Cooley suggested anyone with bee allergies carry an EpiPen, which can deliver life-saving epinephrine (adrenaline), at all times.
Hours after James treated the area with several types of poison, the yellow jacket numbers began to decrease, and a check the next day showed the hive had been successfully destroyed.
Bees and wasps can come back at any time. I would suggest keeping keep yards clean of any leaf debris, piles of brush or any other places where they can build a hive, James said. If you do see swarms of bees or wasps, then call a professional who has the proper equipment to handle the situation, he said.