Box Jellyfish exist in Thailand
Replies: 51 - Last Post: Jul 16, 2012 9:19 PM Last Post By: davelliot
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Box Jellyfish exist in Thailand
Just an FYI to all travelers, on March 25, 2012 I got stung by a box jellyfish swimming off the beach on the north shore of Ko Samui. The doctors did not identify the sting as a box jelly fish, but over the next 3 weeks the skin on my leg died. I came back to the USA where doctors identified the third degree burn as a box jellyfish burn. I know travel books do not share much about jellyfish. I was stung when swimming in a rainstorm, so at minimum I suggest avoiding that. My other suggestion is to know that vinegar is the only product to stop the immediate burning. More server cases have happened in Thailand and some people have died.1
I've also been stung on the foot by some unknown thing at Banthai beach on Koh Samui. The guest house owner used some local plant to relieve the extremely painful sting.4
This is not the first time somebody is stung on Samui shores, at least one death is reported, but a few years ago. I've reported about this various times on my dive blog . Accidents happen all over Thailand although so far, this year has been a quiet year.Another good source of information is this blog about box jelly fish in Thailand
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THere's quite a lot about Box jellies on TT.However the vinegar is NOT to stop the "burn" - it paralyses the stinging mechanism and makes it safer to remove any tentacles that are still attached to the victim.
It would be fair to say that you are lucky to be alive.
here are of course many other jellyfish that can deliver extremely painful stings - but the box jelly is the one held responsible for most deaths.
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@6 aloe vera plants grows very abundantly nicely in Thailand. Had some in my garden in BKK.Might not be 'native' to Thailand but can be grown locally.
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@6 aloe vera plants grow abundantly in Thailand. Had some in my garden in BKK.Might not be 'native' to Thailand but can be grown locally.
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LolIf you got stung by a box jelly fish
You would be dead with in 2 hours.
The golden rule when it comes to bites and stings
Hot water by sea.
Cold water by land.
And this helps reduce all swelling and the effects of the venom.
Until you can get proper medical treatment.
Some people are so stupid and know nothing about basic first aid.
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Way to go lily, you know it all, do you. There's actually people that do survive box jelly stings, although the stings are nasty and can be in many cases deadly. For box jelly's it's vinegar that does the trick.I just wonder how you get hot water sorted by the sea, plus if it's fresh water on a box jelly, which lies in sea water, you basically active all stings that are still inactive. Not so great advice from you in this case.
We're talking box jelly here, not any other kind of jelly!
It clearly shows that on this topic, you unfortunately have no clue at all. Don't worry, it can happen to the best.
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Sorry but with box jellies it seems the only thing is vinegar - that can save your life.THe stinging mechanism is paralysed by the vinegar.
If you try to remove the tentacles without vinegar, you will trigger further stinging and increase the chances of fatality - which aren't a given thing.
Your chances of survival will be improved distinctly if Waylill is nowhere near you!
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