The blue bottle sting is something quite common in Australia.
Hot days relaxing on the beach; what more can you ask for on a hot summer day.
However, these days can come at a cost. One of which is the all too familiar Bluebottle. His other names are the Pacific Man O War or Portuguese Man O War.
Bluebottles can grow to about 15 cm with tentacles stretching to 10 metres in length. Bluebottles are actually a colony made up of four zoids. They are responsible for up to 30,000 stings each year in Australia.
Bluebottles float on the surface of the ocean and are at the mercy of the winds and the currents. On the East Coast of Australia, a North Easterly wind will blow bluebottles to shore where they will be an unwelcome menace to swimmers and surfers alike.
Bluebottles have long tentacles which are the colony, the float is one individual that supports the colony. The tentacles of the Bluebottle have various roles in supporting the colony and not all contain stingers and venom.
There have been no recorded fatalities in the Southern Hemisphere from Bluebottle stings. However a sting can be quite painful causing distress and in younger children and the elderly or a severe allergic reaction.
What to do
Blue bottles sting thousands of people each year. If someone has been stung move the casualty to a comfortable shaded area if possible. Carefully remove any remaining tentacles by flushing the area with seawater. Do not rub the area. Thorough rinsing with seawater should remove any invisible stinging cells.
Where possible, immerse the affected area in warm water, about 40 degrees for at least 10 minutes. This will kill the protein in the venom reliving the pain. Do not use vinegar.
Should the sting happens on the face or throat, or the pain is not subsiding seek medical attention, call 000.
Finally, consider doing a First Aid Course to help you face such a situation.
