{"id":22583,"date":"2021-10-29T10:46:54","date_gmt":"2021-10-29T00:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/?p=22583"},"modified":"2023-09-12T13:36:35","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T04:06:35","slug":"jellyfish-first-aid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/blog\/jellyfish-first-aid\/","title":{"rendered":"Jellyfish First Aid"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"22583\" class=\"elementor elementor-22583\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f691e16 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f691e16\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c657477\" data-id=\"c657477\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57c9b8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"57c9b8c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 25-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imagine that you are walking along a lovely beach and decide to take a quick swim. The ocean isn\u2019t that clear today, but heck, the weather is too hot not to. You hop in and go pretty deep. All of a sudden, you feel a slight sting on your foot. There\u2019s jellyfish all around you, and you are right in the thick of it. You\u2019re pretty sure the zap was from the surrounding jellyfish. You rush back to shore and call <\/span><b>Triple 000. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upon arrival at the hospital, the doctor asks, \u201cDo you know what type of jellyfish stung you?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Around the Australian coast, there are generally three main types of jellyfish. These jellyfish vary in specific features. The shape, size and tentacles are all different from each other. Remembering the particular details can be difficult, but learning and understanding the difference can save your or a mate\u2019s life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h2 style=\"color: #116914;\">What Makes Jellyfish Venomous?<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A jellyfish\u2019s two main visible parts are the hood and the tentacles. The venomous part of the jellyfish is their tentacles, which have stinging cells on them called Nematocysts. They shoot poison into what comes into contact with them, like tiny harpoons. Usually, they use this to eat their prey, but humans are also heavily susceptible to being stung by a jellyfish\u2019s tentacles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since these tentacles can be up to 3-10m in length, there can sometimes be numerous sites in which you are stung. The more contact made with the tentacles, the more poison injected, so it is essential to be very cautious when swimming near jellyfish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jellyfish do not actively hunt for humans. Humans will usually actively swim into the path of jellyfish tentacles, causing the sting. It is important to be aware of your surroundings and make sure there are no jellyfish around you to avoid an unfortunate event where you are stung by a jellyfish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h2 style=\"color: #116914;\">What Are The Different Types Of Jellyfish, And How Do You Treat Their Stings?\u00a0<\/h2><h3 style=\"color: #116914;\">Bluebottle Jellyfish<\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bluebottle Jellyfish is the most common cause of jellyfish stings in Australia. Also named the Portuguese Man O\u2019 War, they are responsible for around 10,000 to 30,0000 stings each year! These jellyfish are also relatively small in size ranging from 2 to 15 cm, and their tentacles can reach 10 metres in length. These jellyfish are also common all over Australia and can be spotted in South Australia and all the way along the East Coast.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are stung by a bluebottle Jellyfish, the pain can be intense. It can feel like whiplash and can last up to 1 to 2 hours. It also creates sores on the skin, which will fade after a couple of days. There will also be redness and a rash at the site of the sting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h4 style=\"color: #116914;\">How To Treat A Sting From A Bluebottle?\u00a0<\/h4><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wash the sting with seawater and remove any tentacles <\/span><\/li><li>Run hot water on the skin for 20 minutes. Make sure the water will not cause burns but make it as hot as they can tolerate.<\/li><li>If hot water isn\u2019t available, an ice pack will help with pain relief\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vinegar will <\/span><b>not <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">help with a sting from a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bluebottle<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> jellyfish, as it might increase the stinging pain! However, vinegar will help with most other jellyfish stings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stings from these jellyfish do not always require a doctor\u2019s visit. However, if you are unsure what has stung you or if you are having a bad reaction to the sting, a doctor\u2019s visit won\u2019t hurt.<\/span><\/p><h3 style=\"color: #116914;\">Major Box Jellyfish\u00a0<\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A major box jellyfish is unique in its cube-like shape, and there are not many cases of stings from these jellyfish. It is one of the most venomous jellyfish and can cause death within 5 minutes of delivering a sting. Luckily cases of this jellyfish stinging are rare, with roughly 40 cases each year and with a total of 80 known cases since 1883, which resulted in death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The major box jellyfish is called a box jellyfish for its unique box-like appearance. It can have up to 15 tentacles that hang from the four corners of its body. These tentacles can be up to 3m in length. Since there are so many tentacles, it can be easy to have multiple sting sites!<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sting from one of these jellyfish can cause severe pain and a red\/purple whip-like lesion on the body at the site of the sting. In sporadic cases, the heart can even stop beating!\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h4 style=\"color: #116914;\">How To Treat A Major Box Jellyfish Sting?<\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are stung by a Major Box jellyfish. Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. The following first aid will help while waiting for the ambulance.<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put lots of vinegar on a Major Box jellyfish sting. Vinegar stops any nematocysts which haven\u2019t fired venom from doing so. If vinegar is not available, then wash with seawater<\/span><\/li><li>Carefully remove the tentacles from the skin<\/li><li>Check for a pulse. If the person is unconscious, start CPR\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><h3 style=\"color: #116914;\">Other Types Of Box Jellyfish\u00a0<\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a multitude of different species of box jellyfish\u2014all very venomous. Certain box jellyfish cause the Irukandji Syndrome.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If stung, symptoms can occur 20 to 30 minutes after.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can cause:\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anxiety and sweating<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nausea and vomiting<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Severe pain in the body (back, tummy, chest and muscles)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased heart rate (tachycardia)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In rare cases, fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In rare cases, damage to the heart<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These symptoms are dangerous and require immediate medical attention. If you are stung by any box jellyfish. Calling an ambulance can save a life!\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To treat a sting from another Box Jellyfish. Use the same treatment as you would for a Major Box jellyfish. Pour lots of vinegar over the affected skin and carefully remove the tentacles from the skin while waiting for an ambulance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h2 style=\"color: #116914;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What To Do If You Don\u2019t Know What Stung You?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be challenging to determine which jellyfish may have stung you as they are relatively transparent and small. Since Box jellyfish are the most deadly you can encounter, it is vital to treat any sting like it is a major box jellyfish sting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Especially if:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is in the tropics in Australia<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are multiple sting sites<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The person stung seems unwell<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2 style=\"color: #116914;\">Jellyfish Sting Prevention<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some things you can do that will help reduce the chance of being stung by a jellyfish include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoiding swimming in areas that actively have jellyfish in them. These areas can be signed with warnings <\/span><\/li><li>Don\u2019t touch any jellyfish. Even if they are washed up on the beach as their tentacles still contain venom<\/li><li>Wearing a full-body lycra wetsuit and waterproof footwear will protect you from contact with jellyfish<\/li><li>Swim near lifeguards or people with first aid training. These people can help save your life and administer first aid while an ambulance is on the way!\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><h2 style=\"color: #116914;\">First Aid Course<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the worst-case scenario, a Box Jellyfish sting can cause the heart to stop! CPR can give you those life-saving skills to restart the heart.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <a href=\"\/course\/hltaid011\/\">first aid course<\/a> with FirstAidPro is a quick and convenient course. Our courses will even credit you with a certificate which you can use for the workplace as well. Why not book one today and save a life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a35183 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"9a35183\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"\/calendar\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Book a First Aid Course<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine that you are walking along a lovely beach and decide to take a quick swim. The ocean isn\u2019t that clear today, but heck, the weather is too hot not to. You hop in and go pretty deep. All of a sudden, you feel a slight sting on your foot. There\u2019s jellyfish all around you, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":22596,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[314],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22583"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22583"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22583\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46173,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22583\/revisions\/46173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstaidpro.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}