LIFESTYLE NEWS - Blue bottles are a weird group of colonial jellyfish, well known for their stings which cause immediate and severe pain.
A red line forms where the tentacle has touched and it soon becomes swollen and itchy, generally fading in about an hour.
Treatment
? Wash the area in sea water to remove any remaining tentacles. (Do not use vinegar.)
? Immerse the area in hot water (no hotter than can be comfortably tolerated) for 20 minutes, or take a hot shower.
? If hot water is not available, a cold pack may help.
? The most soothing remedy comes from the dunes: a fleshy succulent with pink flowers, Carpobrotus edulis. Break open the leaves and apply the aloe-like gel to the stung area for immediate relief.
? Visit a doctor if the pain, itchiness and blistering continues, for a topical treatment to reduce the inflammation.
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