7yr old killed by Jellyfish

[MSGT]

THE seven-year-old stung by a box jellyfish in far north Queensland on the weekend suffered an agonising - but mercifully quick - death.

"The pain is horrific; it's like being put into boiling oil," said Lisa-ann Gershwin, national marine stinger adviser with Surf Lifesaving Australia. "She was probably dead within about three minutes. She lost consciousness very, very quickly which was probably a good thing. It reduced her suffering."
The indigenous girl, whose name has been withheld for cultural reasons, was stung at an unpatrolled beach near the remote community of Umagico.




http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0%2C5744%2C17775948%25255E23289%2C00.html

[MSGT]

More on the jellyfish itself
http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/the-great-barrier-reef/jellyfish.htm

[DeclinetoState]

It's all Bush's fault. That global warming upset the jellyfish, so it had to vent its frustration by stinging someone.

(I should be careful about saying this. Somebody might take it seriously.)

[TechnoPrincess]

Those things are nasty!!

[Wolfcounsel]

Immediate first aid of plain white vinegar on the box jellyfish wound will neutralize the burning pain before medical treatment can arrive. I got this from a documentary on some channel a few years back. Always take vinegar to the beach as first aid for all marine animal stings.

EDIT-- I just read the link, and I believe it would be a good idea to carry a little squirt bottle of vinegar around your neck, just in case. The documentary I saw had people get stung by one tentacle on the forearm. the volunteers all said the pain was unbelievable, but vinegar quickly brought relief.

[Peachdiane]

Great alternative to having people piss on you when you get stung.

[Conserv_Atticus]

i got stung by a jelly fish once in hawaii... all up and down my arm. A jelly fish had got hit by someones boat engine and ripped to shredds and the part that stings you is invisible. But yah like i said, all up and down my right arm, it burned like a bitch. But since i hate vinegar (it makes me gag when i smell it) i told them don't you dare pour it on me... and i wasn't about to piss on myself... so i just took the pain... it sucked, but makes a great story.

[EveningStar]

The box jellyfish is considered by many to be the most toxic creature on the planet. Of course it's in Australia which also has the most toxic spider and the most toxic snake.

[Melz]

AU seems to be full of wild beings. One of my aussie friends is more wary of American animals though. I guess they see a lot of tv shows and movies with bears in them. They are under the impression that this country has bears just roaming around ready to pounce. His fear of them is amusing considering what they have over there!!!

[Wolfcounsel]

"But since i hate vinegar..." --Conserv_Atticus

I hope you have nothing against meat tenderizer. That one works also, but white vinegar is practically mandatory in the case of the box jellyfish. Or wear panty hose on your lower body and improvise some sort of panty hose shirt for your upper body. The tentacles of the jellyfish have tiny hypodermic needles that shoot the poison into you on contact. They cannot penetrate the panty hose, though.