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First Aid Treatment
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First Aid for Marine Stings in Tropical Australian Waters - PDF
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 TREATMENT
OF JELLYFISH STINGS WITH COLD PACKS OR ICE
Cold packs or ice (wrapped in a cloth) are very
effective, applied to the area of a jellyfish sting to relieve local
skin pain. It is the first aid treatment of choice. They may be
used if no other treatment is available for Chironex Box Jellyfish
stings, but are less effective because of the severe pain, and deep
tissue destruction.
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Firstly,
remove any remaining adherent tentacles by washing with water.
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Warn
victim that ice pack may be uncomfortable at first! |
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Wrap
cold pack or ice in a wet cloth and apply directly over the
sting site for 10-20 minutes (apply only to stung area to
avoid hypothermia - especially small children). |
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Reassess
pain and reapply cold pack or ice if necessary. |
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Send
for medical assessment if cold fails to relieve pain, or other
symptoms develop. |
LARGE
STINGS
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If
a sting covers a large area, particularly if the victim is
cold or wet, using a large number of cold packs, or packing
the area with ice may encourage hypothermia. |
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In
these cases "ice massage" seems to help. A small
block of ice is held with a glove, or grasped with a cloth,
and rubbed by the first-aider all over the stung area for
10-20 minutes, or until pain relief occurs. At the same time
the rest of the body can be kept warm with blankets or clothing.
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If
this simple treatment is not effective the patient is referred
to medical help. |
FIRST
AID TREATMENT OF CHIRONEX & OTHER BOX JELLYFISH STINGS
First aid treatment of chirodropid envenomation.
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1.
Retrieve the victim from the water and restrain them, if necessary.
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2.
If others are available, immediately send them for ambulance
/ medical help (emphasise the sting is from a Box jellyfish
as the Ambulance may have antivenom available). |
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3.
Check the victims Airway, breathing and circulation (ABC).
Treat with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (EAR), or heart massage
(CPR), if necessary. |
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4.
If others are available, or if resuscitation is not needed,
pour vinegar over the stung area for a minimum of 30 seconds
to inactivate remaining stinging cells on any adherent tentacles
left on the skin. |
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5.
AFTER vinegar application, apply compression bandages directly
over major stings, ie. those:
a) covering an area more than half of one limb
b) causing impairment of consciousness
c) causing impairment of breathing
d) causing impairment of circulation
If vinegar is unavailable, the rescuer should pull tentacles
off using their fingers (only a faint, harmless prickling
will be felt) - before applying the compression
bandages. REMEMBER to wash your hands after this as sting
cells will remain on your fingers until they are carefully
washed off! |
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6.
If available, use CSL Chironex antivenom for all major cases
(see above). Three ampoules each containing 20, 000 units
may be given intramuscularly, above the bandages, by a trained
health professional on the beach. One ampoule intravenously
may be given by medical personnel. |
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7.
Cold packs may be used (15 minutes and repeated when necessary)
to help ease the skin pain in conscious victims. |
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8. In
severe envenomation, use oxygen if available; Inhaled analgesia
(ie entonox or penthrane) can be administered for unremitting
pain in conscious, breathing, cooperative patients; its use
should be discontinued if the patient's condition worsens. |
TREATMENT
OF MARINE CREATURE STINGS BY HOT WATER
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1.
First, test the temperature of the water with your own limb.
Because of the pain of envenomation, the victim's may be unable
to feel the heat of the water with the affected limb; a severe
or painful burn could result!
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2.
After the water has been tested, the affected limb is immersed
in hot water until the pain is reduced, or relieved.
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3.
It may be necessary to change the water, or `top it up' several
times - don't forget to test each time! |
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