Blue Bottle Sting
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.
Blue Ring Octopus Bite
You may not feel a Blue Ring Octopus bite immediately, but the bite effects will appear within 15 minutes. These effects may include numbness, bleeding, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and difficulty breathing. With summer just around the corner, it is time to consider what dangers are present in our ocean waters. Blue Ring Octopus Description The Blue Ringed Octopus is a member of the Hapalochlaena genus. Living in rock pools and on reefs all around Australia, it is an attractive but deadly little octopus. Blue Ringed Octopi grow to about 20 centimetres in length and their bite can be fatal. The Blue Ring Octopus produces a venom called Tetrodotoxin. It is a neurotoxin which when injected into a human via a bite causes paralysis. Tetrodotoxin will cause paralysis which may begin within 10 to 30 minutes. Victims require urgent medical attention, as they may become unresponsive within 15 minutes due to the paralysis causing the muscles such as the diaphragm and heart to stop working. What to do If you suspect someone is suffering from a Blue Ringed Octopus bite, immediately calm and reassure the person. Lie them down and advise them to keep still, as it will assist in slowing the venom from moving through the body. Have someone call an ambulance and state that a Blue Ringed Octopus has bitten the victim. If you or someone else has been trained in First Aid apply a pressure immobilization bandage over the bite site and from the extremity of the limb as far up the limb as possible. If the bite is not on a limb firm direct pressure over the bite site may help. Prevention is always better. Ensure children are aware of the dangers when playing in and around rock pools or sea baths/pools. Remember, a Blue Ring Octopus bite can kill within 30 minutes.