> You might spend some time asking experienced >beekeepers and research people about the dangers of an anaphylactic reaction >if a person is exposed to bee venom but never stung. It appears that >beekeepers' family members have a higher than average serious reaction to >bee stings than does the general population. This happened in the case of my daughter. If we didn't live 15 minutes from the hospital, we might have lost her. She used to go to bee yards with me, and ride in my truck to and from school every day. She loved helping with extracting. She only got stung once or twice. Then, one evening while doing homework with her, she was stung on the calf. In 5 minutes she was cherry red from head to toe. The doctors saved her with epineprin and benedryl. She is now in venom therapy...last injection was equivalent of three stings. This has taken 2 1/2 years of venom injections. She has had to take zyrtec and prednisone before each treatment. The plan is to decrease the drugs slowly until she can stand the stings without them. If you are going to expose your little daughter to bee venom, without actually being stung, you are asking for trouble. The allergist told me that in the general public, allergy rates to bee venom are 1 in 100 - 200. In beekeeping families, that rate goes to 1 in 10. I would suggest one of two options: 1. Don't expose her. Wash your bee clothes so she isn't exposed to bee proteins. Keep her suit and yours clean. 2. If you want her there, exposed to bee proteins as you are, she must receive regular stings. At three, I would think this would turn her off to the joys of beekeeping. Mike :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::