ERV warns its customers about dangerous jellyfish
A few tourist die or get badly injured every year after coming into contact with a poisonous jellyfish while having a swim. ERV in Sweden has noted increasing concern from its customers, and has responded with information on the dangers of jellyfish, how to avoid them and what to do if someone is stung.
”Let’s not forget that there are, in fact, very few reported cases of injuries caused by jellyfish”, says Christina Karlegran, Director of Communications at ERV in Sweden. ”But we have received an increasing number of inquiries from concerned customers lately, so we decided to provide people with information about it”.
Jellyfish stings can do more than just damage the skin. They can be potentially fatal if the venom interferes with the vital functions of the body, such as breathing, pulse and blood pressure. If someone is badly stung they need emergency treatment, including CPR. Antivenom is available to counteract box jellyfish stings, and this can prevent the venom reaching the vital parts of the body, but the antivenom must be given immediately.
”If you are visiting an area known for dangerous jellyfish, you should avoid bathing during jellyfish blooms, beaches downwind of the blooms or where jellyfish are being washed up on the beach”, says Christina Karlegran. ”Wear protective clothing when you are swimming in areas known for jellyfish”.
Mai Ellegaard, Manager of our Euro-Center service office in Thailand, explains that dangerous jellyfish are not restricted to Southeast Asia. They are also found off the Australian and North American coast, for example.
”Injuries range from mild to serious, certain jellyfish are exceptionally poisonous, and even a small sting can cause severe pain and irritation, while other jellyfish are totally harmless to humans”, says Mai Ellegaard. ”Most jellyfish stings can be treated with skin creams, but certain types are much more serious, requiring emergency medical treatment”.
Jellyfish which can cause serious injury:
• The Portuguese man-of-war, also called the ”bluebottle jellyfish”, has a distinct purple bulge on top, which acts as a sail. It is most commonly found off the east and west coasts of the USA, around Hawaii and in the Gulf of Mexico.
• The sea nettle may be brown or red, and is most often found along the east coast of the USA. It usually travels in large shoals, and is frequently washed up on the beach.
• The box jellyfish, also known as the ”sea wasp”, is one of the most venomous creatures in the world, and inhabits the warmest seas. A particularly dangerous variety of box jellyfish is the tiny Irukandji, which is found along the east coast of Australia.
• The lion’s mane is the world’s largest jellyfish. Its body can be up to 2.4 metres in diameter. It occurs most frequently in the colder, northern regions of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
What to do if you are stung by a jellyfish:
• Avoid touching the injured area or moving your arms and legs more than necessary, since this can cause further injury if the tentacles are still attached to your skin.
• Wash the stung area immediately with seawater to get rid of any tentacles. Do not wash the stung area with fresh water, alcohol, bleach or ammonia, as this can cause more damage. Rinse the injured area with vinegar to neutralise the skin.
• Remove as many tentacles as you can using a plastic item, such as a credit card or rubber gloves. Remove any remaining parts of the jellyfish by applying shaving foam or a mixture of seawater and baking powder or talcum powder to the affected areas. Scrape it off when it has dried.
• Alleviate pain and itching with ice and over-the-counter skin creams (such as calamine lotion). Immerse the injured part of the body in warm water (43-45 degrees C) for 20 minutes.
How to avoid being stung by dangerous jellyfish:
• Wear a wetsuit or other protective clothing when you are swimming or diving in areas where stinging jellyfish occur. Wearing women’s tights on arms and legs can also provide protection.
• Ask for advice from local people before you bathe, especially in areas where jellyfish are common.
• Do not swim in the sea when jellyfish are in the area or have been washed up on the beach.
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