Re: [Paddlewise] jellyfish stings

> From: "PeterO" <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>

> to prevent further release of poison. Seems to me (a non medic) that the
> sting management strategies recommended by first aid organisations such as
> St John's Ambulance, although based on limited data, have a reasonable
> prospect of being appropriate.

I agree strongly.  The advice from the book I mentioned earlier isn't
just anecdotal.  It comes from ermergency-room experience as well as 
studies conducted.  Craig Thomas is an emergency room doctor and his 
co-author/wife is a registered nurse who volunteers with him for the 
Aloha Medical Mission and earned a bachelor's degree in biology at 
the University of Hawaii.  Since 1987, she she has been writing a 
weekly column called "Ocean Watch" for the Honolulu Star-bulletin and
both are avid divers as well as sailors having sailed their 37-foot 
sailboat from Connecticut to Hawaii in 1983 where they have since 
resided.  I'd say their observations in the area of marine first aid 
would be noteworthy. :-)  btw, there are 200 species of jellyfish, 
some of which do not sting at all.

> But maybe prevention is better than cure in warmer climates - In the section
> on box jelly fish the Melbourne University website shows a picture of
> Queensland surf lifesavers wearing stinger suits. Alternatively panty hose
> body stocking have been suggested by some divers/kayakers in tropical waters
> as a protection against stings - it doesn't sound tough but is supposed to
> be effective:~)

I can vouch for that.  I burn easily so tend to cover myself as best
I can for a full day kayak surfing in the sun.  My clothing choice 
for surfing is bicycle pants and longsleeve tops because they prevent 
sunburn like nothing else for a full day of kayak surfing.  One time
while out surfing, I wiped out into a school of Portuguese man-of-war.
My tight-fitting bicycle pants saved my legs but my not-tight-enough 
top did not save my upper torso from the stings.  It actually trapped
them inside my shirt until I could work my way out of the surf and reach
the beach and remove it.   Was one of those teeth-grinding kinds of pain.  

I survived, though :-)  Don't remember exactly but most likely just 
rinsed off with fresh water which has been the remedy of choice since
I was a kid playing at the beach and stinging went away in short order.
This is another excerpt from the book...

   "Most Hawaii Portuguese man-of-war stings disappear by themselves, 
    sometimes within 15 or 20 minutes. Because of this, even harmful 
    therapies often appear to work. 

Which is often the case of unproven remedies which develop a reputation
as being a great cure.  "Hey, the pain stopped, so it's got to be a
cure!"
 
cheers,

jackie



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