Summer vacation is approaching, and many parents are willing to go to the beach to experience nature when arranging parent-child travel plans. As everyone knows, seemingly calm and beautiful beaches may hide unknown dangers!
Recently, the Shenzhen Health Commission issued a reminder: Go to the beach to play, don't touch this kind of "plastic bag"!
This plastic bag-like, balloon-like creature is actually a highly poisonous monk's hat jellyfish. Its tentacles are about 10 meters long and are covered with toxin-filled stinging cells, which are no less poisonous than cobras.
Mitral Hydro
Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Songkhla, Thailand:
Be wary of poisonous jellyfish
On June 28, the Chinese Consulate General in Songkhla, Thailand, issued a reminder: A few days ago, highly poisonous monk's hat jellyfish were found in the waters of Phuket, and recently three adults in southern Thailand have been stung by poisonous jellyfish, and one child died after contact.
The Chinese Consular Office in Phuket reminds Chinese tourists to be careful when wading in Phuket waters or beaches, and not to actively touch marine creatures such as monk's hats or other jellyfish.
Jellyfish stings are common
Once stung by a jellyfish, there may be sudden pain at the site of contact; linear, erythematous urticarial lesions appear minutes or hours later; Intense burning sensation, or accompanied by symptoms such as itching or fluctuating sensation.
Some jellyfish may cause systemic symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, headaches, etc., in addition to causing local reactions.
In recent years, there have been incidents of jellyfish stings:
In February 2024, a number of tourists were accidentally stung by a blue-bottle monk's hat jellyfish while playing in the water in the back sea of Sanya. According to the doctor, most of the patients had palm injuries, swelling and pain in the affected area, and some children also had abdominal cramping pain.
In September 2022, Mr. Yang of Shenzhen took his 7-year-old son Doudou to Dameisha Beach to play, and Doudou was accidentally stung by a jellyfish, and his legs were red and swollen in a large area.
Doctors found that Doudou's leg was badly injured, and part of the skin had ulcerated to the point where fat tissue could be seen. The doctor urgently debrided Doudou and treated the wound and performed two skin graft surgeries.
What should I do if I am stung by a jellyfish?
According to statistics, there are more than 30 species of jellyfish along the coast of the mainland that can sting. Some jellyfish stinging wires can secrete cobra-like venom, which can even be life-threatening after a human is stung. Jellyfish grow seasonally, mostly starting to float in shallow waters from May to August, and the active period is in the summer.
Jellyfish look a lot like plastic bags
However, jellyfish generally do not actively attack people, so if you see it when you go to the beach, just stay away immediately. Once you have been stung by a jellyfish, you can deal with it like this:
Remove jellyfish tentacles (try to use gloves, wooden sticks, etc., to avoid direct skin contact);
Rinse the sting area with seawater/vinegar;
Use a knife, razor, card, etc., to separate the stinging cells from the skin. It is best to apply with shaving foam or soap foam before shaving the cells.
Reapply the affected area with vinegar/saline solution, or rinse with seawater. Allow the sting area to dry naturally, take antihistamine drugs, wash the open wound every day, and apply antibiotic ointment.
If you have any of the following symptoms, see a doctor immediately
The skin of the sting wound is red and swollen obviously, burning and stinging, ulcerated;
Symptoms of systemic poisoning, such as nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, fatigue, joint pain, etc.;
Potentially fatal signs (anaphylactic shock), urticaria symptoms, swollen throat, difficulty breathing, altered mental status, shock, and even cardiac arrest.
Source: Beijing time