Jellyfish

Just got back from 10 days and encountered small jellies in almost every location (The Bight, The Caves, Great Dog, Francis/Maho on STJ, White Bay JVD). The stings were quite noticeable. Most of us now have an itchy rash that looks a lot like poison ivy, too. Even saw a local family abandon swimming when one got stung in the face... certainly a nuisance.

No sightings yet on Tortola's north shore..thankfully..

Probably the winds and currents which caused the Sargasso weeds to invade the Islands also brought in the Jelly fish earlier then usual.

We were there last week also and encountered jellies at White Bay, Guana. Didn't notice them at other places.

If you snorkel with a full-body lycra suit it helps considerably.

Walt, I would ask to see a picture...but that may not be suitable for small children...

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Or adults for that matter.

The bumpy rash is most likely from sea lice. I used a lotion on the last trip by Safe Sea - worked very well! I usually get that rash every time if we're snorkeling a lot - and we snorkeled almost every day this last trip and nothing!

We encountered the jellies last month as well, at The Caves and in various places on Virgin Gorda. The sting didn't last long but made me mad enough to cut my swims short when I encountered them. The sea lice was another problem, because I had a rash mostly where my swimsuit was ... that didn't coincide with the jelly stings. At one point I got hit about 5 times in the face and that was it, I was out of the water for the day.

Felix

Here is a product that gets good reviews for both Sea Lice and Jellyfish http://www.amazon.com/Safe-Sea-Anti-jellyfish-Protective-Lotion/dp/B00T3JAFTK

Any good home remedies for jelly fish stings?

Urine works really well. It seems to stop the stinging instantly. The good thing about urine is that it is readily available just about everywhere and not too expensive. Oh yes, and TSA doesn't seem to mind you bringing it on the plane!!

[img][image]http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t415/jdp331/captainampcoke.jpg[/img]

Vinegar works best to provide relief. Shaving cream and a credit card to try to remove the stingers

Despite what anyone tells you, do not apply vinegar, urine or meat tenderizer to the affected area,” UAMS neurosurgeon Dr. T. Glenn Pait says. “Do not rub the area or give the person any medication until checking with a medical professional.”

Dr. Pait suggests the best thing to do is to immediately get out of the water and wash the affected area with salt water. Salt water will deactivate the stinging cells while fresh or tap water can reactive the stinging cells. It is also helpful to try to remove the cells carefully with something such as a credit card

Vinegar is commonly used on dive boats, in our experience it works, the use of vinegar was a recommendation from a Dr.,hence medical advice.

Lastly, DAN says to use household vinegar to prevent further discharge of unfired nematocysts.

Check DAN yourself.

Not trying to dismiss your advise but it seems like the jelly fish are in salt water when you get stung. If you are immersed in salt water, how does "rinsing" with salt water make any sense.
If you are at a beach in a well populated area where medical attention was close it might make sense. But on a boat in the Caribbean, going to Peebles is the last resort for me.
I have been stung and vinegar worked fine.

DO NOT use fresh water. That just makes the little poison sacs contract and squirt more poison. Wash in seawater or vinegar and scrape with the edge of a credit card to remove the stingers.

Ran into a poor girl that got stung in the face at devils bay. Her boyfreind asked me what he should i do. I just did not have the heart to say what he should do.

It might make for a good laugh later, but urinating on someone isn't going to help the sting.

http://www.uamshealth.com/urineforjellyfishsting

Hey Matt,

Are you going back in November?

We're planning on it, not sure when though. Probably on of the two weeks prior to Thanksgiving.

We have not 13 - 23,maybe we will connect again.

Sounds good

Three years ago one of my crew was stung badly (many stings) by box jellies at the Baths. She had a very bad allergic reaction including muscle cramps and nausea. We took her immediately to the clinic on VG where she was one of about seven sting attacks. The others were all from Blue Water Divers. She was in very bad shape but there was one other in even worse condition. The clinic was absolutely incredible, I'm thrilled (and surprised) to say. All were treated in a timely fashion from simple medication to IV for rehydration. All were monitored until they were totally stable and then properly released. I never realized just how <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> these stings can effect the entire muscle and nerve system. SO if you need medical attention for a jellyfish sting I can say that you are in the right place and the right hands. They have plenty of experience. BTW our crew/nurse said that her cramps and pain were similar to childbirth pain. It lasted a few hours but thanks to the medical attention she recovered fully and was back at the "bar" later that night. Thank you VG medical clinic.