Vinegar the message as Chiang Mai vets train Koh Samui folk about threat of box jellyfish

[webfact]

Caption: Use vinegar ONLY!

 

Daily News reported that nine species of potentially harmful jellyfish have been found since 2019 in 23 provinces. 

 

These included two species of electric jellyfish, one bottle jellyfish and six box jellyfish species. 

 

The vets from Chiang Mai spoke to representatives from 20 hotels at The Hive on the holiday island of Koh Samui.

 

Harmful jellyfish have been sighted here in the past.

 

The specialists had advice about what to do, what not to do and also had stickers in four languages to hand out.

 

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The key message was the first aid for someone stung by a jellyfish.

 

Use only vinegar and douse the wounds for at least thirty seconds.

 

Under no circumstances use sand, sea water or fresh water on the wounds or do any rubbing.

 

This only speeds up the poison into the system.

 

Perform CPR if the patient is not breathing.

 

Call an ambulance. 

 

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[JoePai]

Just pee on the wound - far easier

[Thailand]

Chiang Mai vets?

Gained their experience from all the box jellyfish off the CM beaches?

[phetphet]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Just pee on the wound - far easier

I have read that before, but it is recognised as an emergency treatment if nothing else available?

[ronster]

So none of the vets in samui could have been asked to do this and probably actually have experience dealing with jellyfish stings etc ! ????

[Tropposurfer]

Urine for the initial emergency treatment, but vinegar is the best treatment along with careful peeling off of the tentacles as they will continue to inject venom even after the person breaks free of the animals connection to its tentacles. 

While the species of box jellies found in the Gulf of Siam certainly hurt a hell of a lot they have no comparison to the pain levels and possibility of fatality resulting from being stung by the irukndji species found in north eastern Australia.

As for 'blue bottles' otherwise known as 'Portuguese  Man of War' being touted as deadly and oh-so painful they are literally nothing compared to being latched onto by an irukandji.

Edited April 2, 2022 by Tropposurfer

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, JoePai said:

Just pee on the wound - far easier

Pee on me you'll get slap.

[RocketDog]

7 hours ago, JoePai said:

Just pee on the wound - far easier

Just so. Readily available, comes with handy directional dispenser spout, and your 'friends', as well as your enemies, are happy to assist you.

 

I grew up on South Texas beaches with frequent Portuguese Man of War float jellyfish sightings.

I've participated is such humanitarian rescues more than one. ????

[rwill]

vinegar should not be used for all jellyfish stings.

 

Should you apply vinegar to all jellyfish stings? | Better Homes and Gardens (bhg.com.au)

[attento]

10 hours ago, JoePai said:

Just pee on the wound - far easier

Depends where the wound is located ... and/or  if you have 'good friends' nearby.

[sammieuk1]

If your brave enough to go in the sea here you may find jelly fish a fair way down the list just behind floaters for hazardous things to look out for  ????

[biggles45]

In the northern parts of the East coast of Australia, bottles of vinegar are kept in containers on the beaches. Very dangerous to go in the water at certain times of the year. 

[phetphet]

When is the box jellyfish season in Samui, and surrounding islands, (or even Thailand)? I presume when the winds are in a certain direction.

[radiochaser]

21 hours ago, RocketDog said:

Just so. Readily available, comes with handy directional dispenser spout, and your 'friends', as well as your enemies, are happy to assist you.

 

I grew up on South Texas beaches with frequent Portuguese Man of War float jellyfish sightings.

I've participated is such humanitarian rescues more than one. ????

Really? South Texas beaches?   Glad I never had an encounter with one when I was swimming there.  
 

[RocketDog]

17 hours ago, radiochaser said:

Really? South Texas beaches?   Glad I never had an encounter with one when I was swimming there.  
 

It's the long blue tentacles that are poisonous and can be several feet long. If you get into them in the water it can be pretty bad. But generally they are easy to spot in the water because of the translucent blue float, and you see them on the beaches first too.

They are actually colonial creatures comprising at least five different organisms living as one. Fascinating in many ways.

We always kept a jar of Adolphs Meat Tenderizer in the car. Sprinkle it on the wounds to dissolve the proteins that make the poison. Works rapidly.

[gearbox]

On 4/3/2022 at 9:19 AM, phetphet said:

When is the box jellyfish season in Samui, and surrounding islands, (or even Thailand)? I presume when the winds are in a certain direction.

July-November.

 

https://www.thethailandlife.com/box-jellyfish-thailand