13 toddlers, four adults stung by swarm of bees at park near Grand Rapids

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP (WWJ/AP) A group of bees stung more than a dozen young children and four adults at a park near Grand Rapids.

According to WZZM-TV; it happened in Plainfield Township, on Friday (9/6) around 12:15 p.m, when the children went to Rouge River Park. The children were all being cared for by the Milestones Child Development Center, located about a half mile away from the park.

A group of ground-nesting bees stung the 13 three-year-olds and the four adults.

The daycare center told WZZM-TV reporters the bees crawled inside the children’s clothing, stung a few of the children multiple times; and remained attached for over an hour.

The Plainfield Township Fire Department declared a mass casualty event “due to the complexity and the number of people that were potentially hurt,” Plainfield Fire Chief Kyle Svoboda told WZZM-TV.

He also told the TV station the mass casualty declaration activates multiple departments to help with the response, and alerts hospitals in case of a life-threatening allergic reaction.

First responders moved the children away from the bees and on to a bus.

According to Boston Children’s Hospital , about 100 Americans die every year from bee stings. Signs of an allergic reaction include hives, itching, swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, or anaphylactic shock. If you or your child experiences signs of anaphylaxis; like tightening of the throat, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, heart failure, severe itching, or lowered blood pressure; call 911 immediately.

In this case, none of the children were seriously hurt.

Plainfield Township is about 10 miles north of Grand Rapids.