Apply cold packs and take a simple analgesic if required to relieve pain.Remove adherent tentacles by flooding area with sea water, picking off with gloved fingers or forceps or scraping them off with a firm implement (e.g.Jellyfish in Victorian waters rarely cause serious illness but can cause severe pain. Seek medical assessment immediately for cleaning of the wound, tetanus immunisation, pain relief, if required, and therapy to prevent infection.ĭangerous jellyfish found in Australian waters include the box jellyfish (chironex fleckeri) and an array of jellyfish thought to cause the Irukandji syndrome, including carukia barnesi.Do not apply pressure/compression bandaging this will increase the pain.If no relief is obtained after 30-90 minutes, seek medical attention for alternative pain relief. The hot water may need to be topped up to maintain the pain relief. Keep the affected area immersed in hot water until the pain is relieved or has subsided.If no one else is present, the victim should test the temperature with a non-injured limb. It is best for someone other than the victim to test the water temperature. Immerse the affected area in water that is hot enough to be effective but not hot enough to scald. The heat breaks down and inactivates the venom. The best treatment for the severe pain is heat.The most dangerous fish in this group is the stonefish, which is not found in Victorian waters.Įxamples of stinging fish in Victoria include: catfish, chained scorpionfish, cobblerfish, flathead, the fortescue, the goblinfish, gurnard perch or gurnard scorpionfish, the old wife (zebra fish), rabbit fish, rat fish, the red rock cod and stingrays. In some cases it can be severe enough to cause shock. The usual immediate symptom is severe pain. Penetration of the skin by these spines causes a wound that requires medical attention because of the risk of infection and to update tetanus immunisation. There are many fish in Australian waters that have venomous spines. If breathing has stopped, begin Expired Air Resuscitation.Apply a compression bandage over the bite, bandaging upwards from the lower portion of the bitten limb (see pressure bandage with immobilisation technique).Pressure bandage with immobilisation (PBI) is required to limit the movement of the venom from the area. They may vomit and collapse within 10 minutes. Then, within a few minutes, the person may feel tingling sensations in the tongue or lips and soon develop difficulty speaking or seeing. Bites from these creatures are usually as a result of handling them they can inject highly toxic venom when they bite.īlue-ringed octopus do not exhibit their characteristic blue rings except when they are disturbed. The blue-ringed octopus is found in all Australian coastal waters. Remove clover from lawns as it attracts bees.Don’t wear perfume as it may attract bees.Avoid wearing bright clothes, especially on sunny days when bees are most active.Native Australian Bee stings only occasionally need medical attention.European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) stings are the cause of major problems.See your doctor if the bite does not clear up in a few days or if it looks infected.The pharmacist will be able to recommend one suitable for you. Antihistamines are available from pharmacies without a prescription. If there is persistent or severe swelling and/or itching, take an antihistamine for 1-3 days.In most cases this will be the only treatment required, some people may have swelling that persists for a couple of days.If you haven't had a serious reaction to a bee sting in the past If an adult has been stung more than 10 times, or a child more than 5 times, in a single incident, they should be taken to hospital. Remove the sting from the skin AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."Blue Ant" (Diamma bicolor) (this is actually a type of wasp)īees If you have had a serious reaction to a bee sting in the past/you are stung many times.Green-head Ant (Rhytidopenera metallica).Bull or Bulldog Ant (Myrmecia pyriformis).Jumper or Jack Jumper Ant (Myrmecia pilosula).See your doctor if the sting does not clear up in a few days or if it looks infected.The pharmacist will be able to recommend one suitable for you Antihistamines are available from pharmacies without a prescription.If there is persistent or severe swelling and/or itching, take an antihistamine for 1-3 days.Apply a cold pack to the area and take a simple analgesic if required to relieve pain and swelling.
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