BC Cook
FROM swimming to snorkeling to scuba diving, the Pacific gives us many opportunities to enjoy the creation around us. However, we must pay attention to the dangers. We do well to maintain a healthy respect for the creatures that may do us harm, even if they don’t intend to.
When we think of dangerous creatures in the sea we naturally think of sharks. The barracuda also comes to mind, as do certain species of eels and sea snakes. Some types of octopus can seriously injure humans. While it is true that these can hurt or kill us, the deadliest creature in the ocean is none of these. It is the box jellyfish.
The box jellyfish possesses the strongest venom in the animal kingdom. It is so powerful that many people who are stung die on the beach, either because they are immobilized from the pain or they have a heart attack within minutes of being attacked. Because the jellyfish is virtually invisible in the water, most people have no warning of an attack until it is too late. Between 20 and 40 people die every year from box jellyfish in the Philippines alone.
Most jellyfish are blind and drift in the water, preying on whatever comes near them. But the box seeks out prey using 24 eyes on its body. The box is the fastest swimmer among jellies, moving up to 18 feet per minute. They even have primitive brains and a limited memory.
The box typically has 60 tentacles that can reach 10 feet in length. Each tentacle could have hundreds of thousands stinging cells which are triggered by a chemical in your skin. When human skin touches a tentacle thousands of little harpoons stab into the body, each of which contains venom that attacks the brain, heart and central nervous system. So unlike a snake or spider bite, there is no one “wound area” where a person is bitten. Instead, a person is stung in thousands of little places covering the entire legs or torso. It is impossible to localize the venom or expel it.
If you are attacked there is hope but you must act quickly. Once a tentacle gets stuck to your skin it may be hard to remove, since it is held in place by thousands of tiny harpoons. Don’t grab it, not even with a towel or other object. You could trigger the rest of the harpoons that have not fired yet and release more venom. Instead, drench the area with vinegar, which is the most important item to keep in your marine first aid kit. It will not neutralize the venom already in your body but it will deactivate the remaining harpoons. Then wash the tentacles away with water or use a towel to pull them off. After the tentacles are removed, drench the area with vinegar once again. Then get to a hospital and let the professionals take over.
There is no scientific evidence that urine, baking soda, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide are useful on a jellyfish sting, so don’t waste time urinating on your buddy or pouring your beer on him. It is important to remember that tentacles can sting you even if they are separated from the jellyfish’s main body and even if the creature is dead. So if you see a jellyfish carcass lying dead on the beach, don’t investigate it.
The best thing you can do to prevent an attack by a box jellyfish? Wear pantyhose or pants. Because the tentacles react upon contact with skin don’t give them any skin to touch. When swimming in the ocean cover your legs with pantyhose or swimming pants and wear a rash guard or long-sleeve shirt over your upper body. Studies have shown that when a box jellyfish encounters covered skin it does not fire its harpoons.
So if you find yourself trapped between a shark and a box jellyfish, take on the shark.
BC Cook, PhD lived on Saipan and has taught history for over 30 years. He is a director and historian at Sealark Exploration.
