bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Aguas Malas alert-East Cape
Yesterday and today on our beach walk, we saw 10's of 1000's of Portuguese Man o' Wars. I have never seen anything like it. If you were in the water
with this many and had any kind of problems with stings you would be in big trouble.
So if you are surfing or swimming, check it out first.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Holy Chit!
Better pack the spring suit and some gloves.
Hope they dont make it further north up to Mulege.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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First aid for jelly stings
From Wikipedia:
When stung by a jellyfish, first aid may be in order. Though most jellyfish stings are not deadly, other stings, such as those perpetrated by the box
jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) ? the most venomous marine creature and possibly the most venomous of any creature on earth ? may be fatal. Serious
stings may cause anaphylaxis and eventual paralyzation, and hence people stung by jellyfish must get out of the water to avoid drowning. In these
serious cases, advanced professional care must be sought. This care may include administration of an antivenin and other supportive care such as
required to treat the symptoms of anaphylactic shock.
There are three goals of first aid for uncomplicated jellyfish stings: prevent injury to rescuers, inactivate the nematocysts, and remove any
tentacles stuck on the patient. To prevent injury to rescuers, barrier clothing should be worn. This protection may include anything from panty hose
to wet suits to full-body sting-proof suits. Inactivating the nematocysts, or stinging cells, prevents further injection of venom into the patient.
Five percent acetic acid solution (white vinegar) is the preferred method, although meat tenderizer, or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will
neutralize any nematocysts that have not yet discharged into the skin. Meat tenderizer should not be left on the skin for more than 15 minutes, and
none of these substances should be used in the eyes. In the case of stings on or around the eyes, the solution may be placed on a towel and dabbed
around the eyes, but not in them. Salt water may also be used in case any of these compounds are not readily available, but fresh water should never
be used. Rinsing the sting site with fresh water, rubbing the wound, or using alcohol, spirits, ammonia, or urine will encourage the release of venom.
Once deactivated, the stinging cells must be removed. This can be accomplished by picking off tentacles left on the body. First aid providers should
be careful to use gloves or another readily available barrier device to prevent personal injury, and to follow standard universal precautions. After
large pieces of the jellyfish are removed, shaving cream may be applied to the area and a knife edge, safety razor, or credit card may be used to take
away any remaining nematocysts.
Beyond initial first aid, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) may be used to control skin irritation (pruritis).
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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wow very good info Hook. I am going to copy this and put it in my first aid kit. I hope others do the same.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Thanks Hook it will be handy for everyone
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
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Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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Even worse! Be careful!
NO VINEGAR! They say:
http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/portugue.html
IMMEDIATE FIRST AID ADVICE:
1. Rinse the area liberally with seawater or fresh water to remove any tentacles stuck to the skin. This can be from a spray bottle or in a beach
shower. Do not apply vinegar. A study shows that vinegar in these stings sometimes makes the sting worse. (Portuguese man-of-wars belong to a
different family than box jellyfish [Carybdea alata] and therefore must be treated separately.)
2. For severe pain, try applying heat or cold, whichever feels better to the victim.
3. Few Portuguese man-of-war stings in Hawai`i cause life-threatening reactions, but this is always a possibility. Some people are extremely
sensitive to the venom; a few have allergic reactions. Consider even the slightest breathing difficulty, or altered level of consciousness, a medical
emergency. Call for help and use automatic epinephrine injector if available.
-------
A tiny relative of the deadly box jelly causes the Irukandji Syndrome. Called Carukia barnesi http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/mag/48/Irukandjisyndrom.htm
species is closely related to the box jelly . Many times more powerful than the common box jelly. 5000 times more potent than a viper. As small as a
thumbnail, they have been responsible for many deaths attributed to other causes. 99.5% of deadly jellies occur in Australia in the Queensland area.
Hawaii has a species too but is not deadly. Yikes!
Man-O-War can cause death in extreme cases. Are you sure you saw Man-O-War. They are typically solitary drifters and can reach lengths well over 15
ft.
Dead Jellies on the beach can be deadly too. Nematocysts have been shown to perform perfectly when tentacles have been detached and laying on the
beach. DON'T TOUCH!
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Wondering if they were MoWs.....
I have seen "infestations" of a small blue-bubbled jelly in the Chivato area but I dont think they were MoWs. We got stung a few times and the pain
was very mild and disappeared completely in a half hour or so, with no treatment.
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
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Location: La Paz
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Hook and all the little blue bubble agua-amalies generally as you say no problem, We had the experience years ago where we went diving and the wind
blew thousands into the area, my wife was just snorkeling with swimsuit when she returned to get into to boat they got all over her back, the other
person diving with us was able to get into the boat from the front where there ,was less, they then came and got me with less still. There was so
many welts that the poison entered her system and was in intense pain and was gasping for breath, the other fellow was complaining about pain in the
groin, which I was feeling some of the same, after reaching our camp my wife was breathing better but still in pain, while tending her my pain got so
bad I was kneeling on the floor against the couch with intense pain. With no treatment at all within 1/2 hr we were back with the living a horrible
experience and probably close to catastrophic. These little jellyfish have what looks like a black thread hanging down from the body, I was told that
this thread contains tiny barbs that release the poison into you.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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