We had 8 cases of blue bottles sting today. Be careful as the northerlies blow them in.
Treatment: 1/. wash off any attaching tentacles, pick off with fingers if tweezers or gloves not available, 2/. if hot water available, dip area in as hot water as you can bear, this will take the pain away fastest. If hot water not available, ice is next best. Vinegar DOES NOT WORK!
The pain normally settles down about half to an hour.
Monitor breathing, if pain become severe or symtoms of breathing difficulties, call 000.
Last advice: Bring hot water bottle when you come kiting, if no sting, you can always make yourself a nice cuppa after the session ![]()
Be careful offering medical advice that goes against the current training by First aid training organisations.
The use of Hot water to treat marine stings is for Proten based venoms found in Sting Ray/cone shell/stone fish venom.
The use of Hot water actually cooks the venom allowing your body to break it down slower.
The current training on treatment for Bluebottle sting is ice packs after tentacles are removed and area is rinsed clean.
I'm sure everyone appreciates your advice, just be careful recommending the opposite to the industry standard.
Not sure which industry standard you are rederring to, but I am a first aid trainer and examiner with Surf Life Saving and this is the method we use at all our beaches in Australia for blue bottle stings.
SLSA is a major first aid training organisation with the benefit of almost 100 years of lifesaving experience, SLSA offers training in a number of areas of high relevance to industry, employers and employees. Our first aid courses are accredited qualifications from within the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) framework. If that is not good enough I am not sure what is mate.
To save you a blew guys a rang slsa at bribie today to find out whats best for myself and was told that ice was the safest treatment to date.
Checked this out last week. The NSW ambulance memo, refers to Hot Water / ice -
www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au/docs/factsheets/090730bluebottle.pdf
KR![]()
Yes, ice is definitely the safer method especially if you are treating it yourself. There has been known cases people burning themselves with hotwater. Seek medical assistance if pain persists or encountering respiratory difficulties. If you are at Sandgate, all our instructors (in bright red long sleeve rashies with 'INSTRUCTOR' imprinted on their shoulder) are qualified first aider and we have 2 first aid kits in the van, including specific marine kit, emergency procedures and CB radio connected to SLS, VMR and the coast guards. We are a business and our services are not free, but we are here if you need it.
i got stung on sunday the sting was not to bad but it felt like someone was kicking me in the testicles painfull. pissed on the sting all better in 5min
i got stang by a box jelly fish up north while kiting and WOW! it hurt. Got done by a blue bottle at Brighton and it was nothing. Is dangerous if your a weak ass lol! and for the little ones.