A 5-year-old friend of mine got a nasty sting from one of these last weekend at Hamlet Street in Carolina Beach. I don’t know about him, but I would have cried like a baby. Following a sting, vinegar should be applied for a minimum of 30 seconds. Acetic acid, found in vinegar, disables the box jelly’s nematocysts that have not yet discharged into the bloodstream (though it will not alleviate the pain). Vinegar may also be applied to adherent tentacles, which should then be removed immediately; this should be done with the use of a towel or glove to avoid bringing the tentacles into further contact with the skin. The arrival of the Box Jellyfish close to the beach prevents swimming in the Surf unless the beaches have the protective stinger nets installed or you wear a purpose designed swim costume.
Their stings can be lethal. And some people are more susceptable to the sting of any jellyfish than others. There is a distinct season (usually from October and lasts until April) Unless the beaches have protective stinger nets installed, it’s best not to swim off the beaches. You can also wear a purpose designed swim costume that protects you from the jellyfish tentacles.
Each tentacle has about 5,000 stinging cells, which are triggered not by touch but by the presence of a chemical on the outer layer of its prey. Do not rub the sting area with hands, a towel or sand. If breathing stops begin resuscitation. The power of the cubozoan sting is often compounded because box jellies are known to swarm.
It was first thought to have been the Portuguese man-of-war, but as most stings from the Portuguese man-of-war are usually accompanied by a sighting it became obvious that it was probably something else. As death occurred sometimes within 2 to 3 minutes, researchers began to search for another culprit. She said those susceptible to allergic reactions to stings would probably be in the most danger. Diving in on top of them has caused many stings-not allowing the jelly fish a chance to get out of the way.
The Chironex fleckeri is the most famous of the Box Jellyfish due to its large appearance and deadly sting. The venom from one of these creatures is strong enough to kill up to 60 humans in as little as 3 minutes from just one of its up to 60 tentacles. These tentacles are armed with up to 5,000 nematocysts, or rather the stinging cells. These stinging cells are like tiny poison darts which are buried inside the flesh of each tentacle, along the entire length. The arrival of the Box Jellyfish close to the beach prevents swimming in the Surf unless the beaches have the protective stinger nets installed or you wear a purpose designed swim costume.
If no vinegar is available use urine, apart from Box jellies and Irukandji. Ask a mate for a golden shower! If swimming at a beach where box jellyfish are known to be present, a bottle of vinegar is an extremely useful addition to the first aid kit. For some as yet unknown reason, acetic acid, found in vinegar, disables the box jellyfish’s stinging cells that have not yet shot into the bloodstream (though it will not alleviate the pain).
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