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Stinging jellyfish

Classifying box jellyfish

Chirodropid jellyfish

Carybdeid jellyfish

Distribution & abundance

Life cycle

Vision & movement

Feeding & venom

The sting

Irukandji syndrome

Preventing the sting

Future research

Other stinging jellyfish

Bluebottles & Pacific man-o-war

More information


 

First aid

1. Call for medical assistance. See a lifesaver or lifeguard or ring 000 and ask for ambulance.

2. Emergency care. The sting victim should be removed from danger when it is safe to do so, and restrained from rubbing the sting. Administer Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation if the victim’s breathing or heart stops.

3. Treat the sting. The sting should be flushed with plenty of undiluted household vinegar. This disables the undischarged stinging cells (nematocysts) so that they cannot discharge and sting the victim. However, it is not an antidote and will not stop the scarring from Chironex fleckeri stings, nor the pain. Keep the victim calm.

4. Seek medical aid. Transport to hospital via ambulance. There is an antivenom for Chironex fleckeri stings and medical assistance should be sought as soon as possible so that it can be administered. There is no anti-venom for Irukandji syndrome. In rare cases, envenoming by Irukandji jellyfish can cause dangerously high blood pressure (severe hypertension). The patient should be taken to hospital as soon as possible if they develop Irukandji syndrome to be treated for the pain and other severe systemic symptoms.


CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd

PO Box 772 Townsville
Queensland 4810 Australia
Telephone: 61 7 4729 8400
Facsimile: 61 7 4729 8499
Email: info@crcreef.com
Website: www.reef.crc.org.au

 

CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd was established and is supported under the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program. Its mission is to plan, fund and manage world-leading science for the sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. CRC Reef is a joint venture between Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Great Barrier Reef Research Foundation, James Cook University, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland Seafood Industry Association, Sunfish Queensland Inc. The University of Queensland is an associate member.