Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The most common
stings
in Hawaii come from jellyfish, particularly Portuguese man-of-war and
box jellyfish. Because the poisons they inject are very different, you need to treat each type of
sting differently.
A bluish-purple floating bubble with a long tail, the
Portuguese man-of-war
is responsible for
some 6,500 stings a year on Oahu alone. These stings, although painful and a nuisance, are
rarely harmful; fewer than 1 in 1,000 requires medical treatment. The best prevention is to watch
for these floating bubbles as you snorkel (look for the hanging tentacles below the surface). Get
out of the water if anyone near you spots these jellyfish.
Reactions to stings range from mild burning and reddening to severe welts and blisters. All Stings
Considered recommends the following treatment: First, pick off any visible tentacles with a gloved
hand, a stick, or anything handy; then rinse the sting with salt- or fresh water, and apply ice to pre-
vent swelling and to help control pain. Avoid folk remedies, such as vinegar, baking soda, or urinat-
ing on the wound, which may actually cause further damage. Most Portuguese man-of-war stings
will disappear by themselves within 15 to 20 minutes if you do nothing at all to treat them. Still, be
sure to see a doctor if pain persists or a rash or other symptoms develop.
Transparent, square-shaped
box jellyfish
are nearly impossible to see in the water. Fortunately,
they seem to follow a monthly cycle: 8 to 10 days after the full moon, they appear in the waters on
the leeward side of each island and hang around for about 3 days. Also, they seem to sting more
in the morning hours, when they're on or near the surface.
The stings can cause anything from no visible marks to hivelike welts, blisters, and pain lasting
from 10 minutes to 8 hours. All Stings Considered recommends the following treatment: First, pour
regular household vinegar on the sting; this will stop additional burning. Do not rub the area. Pick
off any vinegar-soaked tentacles with a stick. For pain, apply an ice pack. Seek additional medical
treatment if you experience shortness of breath, weakness, palpitations, muscle cramps, or any
other severe symptoms. Most box jellyfish stings disappear by themselves without any treatment.
Most
sea-related punctures
come from stepping on or brushing against the needlelike spines of
seaurchins
(known locally as wana). Be careful when you're in the water; don't put your foot
down (even if you have booties or fins on) if you can't clearly see the bottom. Waves can push you
into wana in a surge zone in shallow water. The spines can even puncture a wet suit.
A sea urchin puncture can result in burning, aching, swelling, and discoloration (black or purple)
around the area where the spines entered your skin. The best thing to do is to pull any protruding
spines out. The body will absorb the spines within 24 hours to 3 weeks, or the remainder of the
spines will work themselves out. Again, contrary to popular wisdom, do not urinate or pour vinegar
on the embedded spines—this will not help.
All
cuts
obtained in the marine environment must be taken seriously because the high level of
bacteria present in the water can quickly cause the cut to become infected. The best way to pre-
vent cuts is to wear a wet suit, gloves, and reef shoes. Never touch coral; not only can you get cut,
but you can also damage a living organism that took decades to grow.
The symptoms of a coral cut can range from a slight scratch to severe welts and blisters. All Stings
Considered recommends gently pulling the edges of the skin open and removing any embedded
coral or grains of sand with tweezers. Next, scrub the cut well with fresh water. If pressing a clean
cloth against the wound doesn't stop the bleeding, or the edges of the injury are jagged or gaping,
seek medical treatment.
