Fire Ants

[n2mm]

Wow, this sounds like what must've bit me in August. We were at the BLT, ground floor and we spent alot of time on the patio. One night I got bit on my ankle and leg. The next day my entire leg swelled and both bites blistered and kept draining. I went to the first aide center at the AK and they wanted me to go to the emergency room. I declined and they gave me an anti-itch oitment and an ice pack. I kept it iced down and finally after a couple of DAYs the swelling went down, but the blisters took several weeks to heal. It was an alergic reaction to something that bit me. Keep in mind that I've been to WDW over 100 times, 4-6 trips a year, always staying on property, and this was worse bites I've ever gotten. I've gotten bit here and there and heat rashes, but never bad enough to have to go to first aid. At first I thought it was spider bites, but now you've got me thinking it was the fireants.....and yes, I wore flipflops the entire time, plus a ground floor room.....

 

[PatriciaH]

I wish that he would do something like this; him having an allergic reaction is one of my biggest fears. However, I could barely convince him to get the first EpiPen; I pretty much had to beg - I can't imagine him going back for another. He is the type to say "don't worry about it since it probably won't happen" and I'm the type to say "it will happen! it will happen! AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!" so we definitely don't agree on this.

I think it's better to be safe than... well, dead. But he's not too concerned about it, and I just can't make him be.

Ugg... This is just like my sister. She had severe reactions to nuts when she was little and I keep bugging her to get a set of EpiPens. She keeps saying yeah soon...

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

I wish that he would do something like this; him having an allergic reaction is one of my biggest fears. However, I could barely convince him to get the first EpiPen; I pretty much had to beg - I can't imagine him going back for another. He is the type to say "don't worry about it since it probably won't happen" and I'm the type to say "it will happen! it will happen! AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!" so we definitely don't agree on this.

I think it's better to be safe than... well, dead. But he's not too concerned about it, and I just can't make him be.

At least that's one thiing - he only ever wears socks and shoes. He doesn't own any flip flops or sandals. If we saw them on him, I would gladly sacrifice being bitten several times in order to try and get them off him before they hit skin. I don't have any real allergies - I'm not even allergic to poison ivy (runs on my mother's sde), and I've been stung by bees, wasps, jellyfish, etc. - so if I could maybe kill them or swipe them off or get his shoes and socks off, I would.

If he's not overly concerned about it, then take a bit of a breather and follow his lead.

 

[Feralpeg]

Wow, this sounds like what must've bit me in August. We were at the BLT, ground floor and we spent alot of time on the patio. One night I got bit on my ankle and leg. The next day my entire leg swelled and both bites blistered and kept draining. I went to the first aide center at the AK and they wanted me to go to the emergency room. I declined and they gave me an anti-itch oitment and an ice pack. I kept it iced down and finally after a couple of DAYs the swelling went down, but the blisters took several weeks to heal. It was an alergic reaction to something that bit me. Keep in mind that I've been to WDW over 100 times, 4-6 trips a year, always staying on property, and this was worse bites I've ever gotten. I've gotten bit here and there and heat rashes, but never bad enough to have to go to first aid. At first I thought it was spider bites, but now you've got me thinking it was the fireants.....and yes, I wore flipflops the entire time, plus a ground floor room.....

This is a typical fire ant bite.

You could have also been the victim of a yellow fly. August is prime time for them.

The big difference in the two is the oozing. Fire ant bites tend to develop a head, much like a chicken pox. They really don't tend to ooze unless you scratch them (which you should never do).

A yellow fly bite doesn't really form a head. It swells and then begins to ooze badly. It gets very large and hot.

I don't like either one, but I'll take a fire ant bite over a yellow fly any day!

 

[ZehnJahren]

If he's not overly concerned about it, then take a bit of a breather and follow his lead.

I'm trying. It's just that the last time he was bit by them, he almost died - they were calling in family, as he wasn't expected to be alive for even a few more hours.

He is just so laid back, and us being in the north has kept him from really needing to worry about them, so he doesn't. Before our trip last year, he hadn't ever been to Florida in his life (he was bit by the fire ants when he was a child living in Texas, and they immediately moved north once he recovered). It's just not something we have to worry about in our day-to-day life.

 

[n2mm]

This is a typical fire ant bite.

You could have also been the victim of a yellow fly. August is prime time for them.

The big difference in the two is the oozing. Fire ant bites tend to develop a head, much like a chicken pox. They really don't tend to ooze unless you scratch them (which you should never do).

A yellow fly bite doesn't really form a head. It swells and then begins to ooze badly. It gets very large and hot.

I don't like either one, but I'll take a fire ant bite over a yellow fly any day!

Thanks for that somewhat nasty photo...sorry....but it did help me determine that my bites were the yellow fly bites. Your description was completely accurate, as the bites oozed constantly, yes very large and hot, hot, and lots of swelling. Of course being behind my knee on the back of my leg didn't help as the heat made it itch and swell more. I rarely go to WDW in August, so that explains the bites....thanks.

 

[Feralpeg]

Thanks for that somewhat nasty photo...sorry....but it did help me determine that my bites were the yellow fly bites. Your description was completely accurate, as the bites oozed constantly, yes very large and hot, hot, and lots of swelling. Of course being behind my knee on the back of my leg didn't help as the heat made it itch and swell more. I rarely go to WDW in August, so that explains the bites....thanks.

You're welcome! Over the past three years, I've had five yellow fly bites. Three of them occured during about a months time. I was to the point of not wanting to go outside. They are not fun!

 

[glammadiva]

I am allergic to all ants. Yep, I know -- weird. I have never been bitten by any type of ant at WDW. I stay on walkways and watch handrails, etc. My doc has me with the epi and benadryl. It takes both to counteract my reaction. I am sure everything will be fine if you stay alert. Have a great time!!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Now, are there fire ants on beaches? Is this something I need to watch closely for? Any good sites that tell exactly where to find them / what they look like?

 

[dmccarty]

I have seen Fire Ants at the resorts and on WDW property but I have not seen the nest in the parks. I grew up in FLA, so looking for Fire Ant Nest is something you learn to do without thinking.

If you have an emergency at WDW call 911. If you see a CM ,tell them to call 911.

Long story I will keep short. Last year we were at EPCOT for F&W and saw a lady pass out on the main walkway to WS. She was an Epileptic and I think she felt a seizure coming since she tried to get to one of the concrete benches. She was lucky when she went down because she easily could have hit her head on a concrete planter, the concrete bench, or the concrete pavement.

I and two ladies saw her go down. The lady was having a seizure. I told the DW to call 911 but then we both saw a CM who called in the emergency. I have a voice that travels, , and when I saw the lady go down, I moved rapidly away from the DW. DW was a good distance from me when I told her to dial 911. Quite a few people heard me tell her to dial 911.

The lady was not on the ground for more than 30 seconds before she had me, with first responder training and experience and THREE nurses helping her.

The Fire Department was on scene within five minutes. At that point her seizures had stopped and she was starting to regain consciousness.

From her ID the lady was likely at a get together of other Disney Fans from another website. I am pretty sure she used to be on the DISboards. The FD recognized her so I think she visits the parks regularly, and unfortunately, has frequent seizures.

The next day we returned to EPCOT at about the same time. As we got off the buses we saw Disney Security near the bathrooms and there was a person on the ground. Yes, it was the same lady. I think she was trying to get a cab or a bus and felt the seizures starting. She tried to sit on the curb and went down. Her seizures were over by the time we saw her. The FD was on the way. I told Security that she had gone down yesterday at the same time

We have seen other people go down at WDW. Surprisingly at EPCOT as well. Maybe we should stay away from EPCOT. Security and CM's were on the scene quickly. We did not wait around but I am sure the FD was there fast.

Later,
Dan