Teacher’s life-threatening allergic reaction to multiple bee stings treated by Anaphylaxis Kitt
*Boundary Oak School, Fareham, England - September 25th, 2024*
A teacher with no allergies narrowly escaped her first life-threatening allergic reaction to 20 bee stings thanks to a portable allergy response kit and training she received at the school.
What started as a routine task for outdoor education teacher Clare Finegan— checking the school's bee hives—quickly turned into a life-threatening emergency when she was stung 27 times, triggering a severe allergic reaction that could have cost her her life
Clare, who had no known severe allergies, recounted the shocking experience:
“I’ve been stung before and I’ve only ever had mild reactions—just some swelling and itching. But this time was different. After getting stung, I started feeling a pressure in my chest and I couldn’t breathe. I knew something was very wrong.”
Despite the rapidly escalating symptoms, Clare managed to reach the school nurse, thanks to the support of her colleagues.
“I couldn’t feel my fingers, and my vision started to blur. I thought, ‘If I collapse here, no one’s going to find me.’ I was so disoriented, but I knew I had to keep moving,” she recalls.
Fortunately, Clare’s school had an Anaphylaxis Kitt from Kitt Medical installed, which contained emergency adrenaline pens and provided essential staff training. Clare had completed the CPD-accredited training the previous year and immediately recognised the signs of anaphylaxis. “As soon as I got to the nurse, I said, ‘I think I’m having an anaphylaxis attack,’” she explains. "She instantly heard that I was wheezing and disoriented and acted fast."
The school nurse administered the adrenaline from the Kitt, and Clare felt the life-saving effects almost immediately. “Just before she gave me the shot, I had awful chest pain. But almost the minute she stabbed me, the chest pain went away,” Clare recalls.
“It was like my body was coming back to life.”
Clare was then taken to the hospital, where she was monitored for several hours. Reflecting on the incident, Clare expressed immense gratitude for the swift response.
"I honestly never expected anything like this to happen to me. I’ve never been in an ambulance or had to stay in a hospital before. I’m just so grateful we had Kitt Medical’s kit in the school. I don’t want to think about what might have happened if we didn’t."
Zak Marks, co-founder of Kitt Medical, emphasised the importance of being prepared for unpredictable allergic emergencies: “What Clare went through shows how fast and severe an allergic reaction can be - even for someone without a known allergy. Our goal with the Anaphylaxis Kitt is to make sure that every school and workplace is prepared for the unexpected, because anaphylaxis doesn’t discriminate.”
Clare’s story is especially relevant given the growing trend of schools and workplaces incorporating beehives and other outdoor activities, which can increase the risk of severe allergic reactions. "I love beekeeping," Clare shares. "But that day was a real wake-up call. You never know when something like this could happen. I was just doing my normal job when things suddenly went downhill.”
The incident has renewed the school’s focus on proper emergency preparedness, with additional Anaphylaxis Kitts now placed throughout the school, ensuring rapid access to adrenaline if another emergency occurs.
Looking ahead, Clare has adapted her approach to beekeeping but continues her work with the school’s hives.
"I never, ever expected something like this to happen to me, and I think that’s what most people don’t realise - anyone can have an allergic reaction, even if you’ve never had one before.
But it hasn’t stopped me. I’m still beekeeping, and I love it. I just make sure I’m more careful now."
Clare is now carrying her own adrenaline pens and is vigilant about her new allergy. But for her, the importance of having resources like Kitt Medical’s kit in place can’t be overstated. “I think it's crazy that more places don’t have them. Supermarkets, restaurants—they should all have this available. It saves lives.”
