Heartstopper The box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri), aka the sea wasp, is one of the deadliest creatu

Heartstopper The box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri), aka the sea wasp, is one of the deadliest creatures in the sea. To better illustrate this, here is a lovely excerpt from a study by Barnes (1960), on the effect of a C. fleckeri sting:  ‘Stings from large Cubomedusae (15 cm or more across the top of the bell) are extremely severe. During the first 15 min pain increases in mounting waves, despite removal of the tentacle. The victim may scream and become irrational. Areas of contact are linear and multiple, showing as purple or brown lines often compared to the marks made by a whip. A pattern of transverse bars is usually visible. Wealing is prompt and massive. Oedema, erythema and vesiculation soon follow, and when these subside (after some 10 days), patches of full-thickness necrosis are leaving permanent scar perhaps with pigment changes.’ And that’s not the worst that could happen. Extreme cases of envenomation can lead to cardiac arrest. Victims may lose consciousness within seconds of being stung, and death may follow within minutes.   First aid treatment involves dousing the stung area (and any attached tentacles) in vinegar for at least 30 seconds, to deactivate undischarged stinging cells. Proper CPR is also advisable, until box jelly anti-venom can be administered. Image source: University of Hawaii System References: Tibballs. 2006.                     Balhara and Stolbach. 2014. -- source link
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