Fatal box jellyfish attack arouses more safety precaution on Samui

[webfact]

Fatal box jellyfish attack arouses more safety precaution on Samui



KOH SAMUI: -- Samui district chief officer chaired the meeting with officials from the local public health office, Samui fishery officer, Samui local administration organisation and hotel and resort operators in Lamai beach to address the box jellyfish problem.

The movement came after Ms. Thies Saskia, a German tourist, was killed after she was stung by an unknown number of box jellyfish while swimming at Lamai beach.

Her friend Ms Jiovana Rassi was also injured after she went in the water to help her friend.

But her condition improved and was allowed to leave Bangkok Samui hospital late yesterday.

At the meeting, it was agreed that beaches will have to be cordoned off for the time being and operators of hotels and resorts have been asked to put up flags to warn off swimmers.

They have also been asked to place nets and buoys to prevent encroachment by the toxic animals.

First aid training has also been set up to educate residents and tourists alike on the correct action to take in the event of an attack.

Bottles of vinegar will also be placed at strategic locations throughout beaches on the island in case of emergencies so that first aid treatment can be quickly applied.

Jet-ski operators have also taken the initiative and have mobilized by asking all their members to set off on their jet-skis armed with hooks to catch the animals before they have the chance to reach public beaches.

This action was brought about after it was reported that large numbers of box jellyfish were sighted at Lamai beach in the morning hours.

As the sun reached its summit during noon, these sightings reduced as box jellyfish do not like strong sunlight.

Jet-skis have also been used to warn off swimmers and tourists of the danger from box jellyfish.

Officials have advised tourists that in the event that they wish to go into the water, they are advised to don swimwear that completely covers the entire body. Swimmers have also been warned not to enter the water after sundown.

Box jellyfish is one of the most toxic animals in the world and although vinegar does nothing to diminish the pain from their stings it is the only known remedy to combat the toxicity of its venom.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/fatal-box-jellyfish-attack-arouses-more-safety-precaution-in-samui


-- Thai PBS 2015-10-08

[Rooo]

Why don't they take a leaf out of Australia's book.

[Inn Between]

Why don't they take a leaf out of Australia's book.

Thainess?

[malasa]

nevermind, the Jet-Ski operators will fix this!

unbelievable ...

[inzman]

The jet ski operators are after all, masters of getting rid of swimmers and tourists.

[Alration]

Why don't they take a leaf out of Australia's book.

What would that be?

[Class C]

Watch someone deliberately getting stung by a Box Jellyfish and then being treated immediately

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fijd7CEF3N8

The speed of getting treatment seems to be the key to minimizing the health risk

[masuk]

This is why the local councils have one litre bottles of vinegar in stands along the beach. It's dyed red so you don't put it on your fish and chips!

There is no lack of warnings and signs giving treatment. Photos attached are at Townsville, QLD, showing a beach netted for jelly fish.

[upena]

Box Jellyfish come out in greater numbers 7-10 days after a full moon. Having said that, I was Mae Phim recently and Tropical Depression Vamco came through with rain and some rough surf. The city did a good job of putting out the red flags saying "No Swimming" in Thai and English. The beach vendors set up shop right next to the flags renting inner tubes.

At Mae Rampheng I did see a box on the beach for first aid. One box on a 10 Km long beach that was supposed to contain a bottle of vinegar. Of course, it was empty.

When I live in Hawaii, we had a problem with Portuguese Man-O-Wars and always carried a spray bottle of vinegar - even though not as deadly as box jellyfish, the man-o-wars are painful.

[masuk]

Watch someone deliberately getting stung by a Box Jellyfish and then being treated immediately

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fijd7CEF3N8

The speed of getting treatment seems to be the key to minimizing the health risk

He's not entirely correct. The irukandji is by far the worst, and the name is aboriginal meaning something like 'painful death'.

This killer jellyfish is about as big as your thumbnail, with 1 metre long tentacles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irukandji_jellyfish

[realenglish1]

Not so fast with the vinegar. It may only exasperate the situation. Read below from QUEENSLAND and I trust Aussie testing more than Thai medicine

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/science-sushi/2014/04/09/stop-using-vinegar-treat-box-jelly-stings-yet-venom-experts-weigh-recent-study/#.VhZIem5ghQQ

Edited October 8, 2015 by realenglish1

[nakhonandy]

Not so fast with the vinegar. It may only exasperate the situation. Read below from QUEENSLAND and I trust Aussie testing more than Thai medicine

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/science-sushi/2014/04/09/stop-using-vinegar-treat-box-jelly-stings-yet-venom-experts-weigh-recent-study/#.VhZIem5ghQQ

Very dubious study IMHO.

Vinegar is used first to neutralize the stingers in the skin so that they cannot fire more venom into the body.

As a dive instructor I have had to do this several times and it works.

Then get the patient straight to hospital.

[evadgib]

Why don't they take a leaf out of Australia's book.

The proposal in the OP is akin to pointing a hoover at a tree at this time of year & expecting to catch all the leaves before they land

[samuijimmy]

I came across this notice at a resort in Lamai the other day..... again Vinegar seems to be the best solution... in the event of box jelly fish attack .....

Quite well written!

[masuk]

Why don't they take a leaf out of Australia's book.

The proposal in the OP is akin to pointing a hoover at a tree at this time of year & expecting to catch all the leaves before they land

My Hoover washing machine couldn't do this! What are you talking about?

[Basil B]

Why don't they take a leaf out of Australia's book.

The proposal in the OP is akin to pointing a hoover at a tree at this time of year & expecting to catch all the leaves before they land

My Hoover washing machine couldn't do this! What are you talking about?

you can not hoover your stairs with a washing machine...

Google "Hoover"... it is not washing machines that Hoover is noted for,

When I was a young boy everybody had a hoover junior...

Circa 1936...

[masuk]

Why don't they take a leaf out of Australia's book.

The proposal in the OP is akin to pointing a hoover at a tree at this time of year & expecting to catch all the leaves before they land

My Hoover washing machine couldn't do this! What are you talking about?

you can not hoover your stairs with a washing machine...

Google "Hoover"... it is not washing machines that Hoover is noted for,

When I was a young boy everybody had a hoover junior...

10240907.jpg

Circa 1936...

So the word you're meaning is in fact "Vacuum Cleaner".