Venomous Marine Life
Box Jelly Stings
Flecker's Box Jelly Chironex fleckeri
The largest and a very important member of the lethal cubomedusae, Chironex fleckeri grows to 2 m (6 ft) in length (the largest specimen recorded so far, had more than 91 metres (298 ft) of tentacles). The squarish, bell topped dome can be 30 cm (11 in) across and they have 15 ribbon-like nematocyst studded tentacles growing from each of the pedalia which bends at an angle, projecting upwards.
They can swim rapidly and move along at up to 5km per hour when hunting their main food, which is small fish.
This species appears to have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people throughout its range across the Indo-Pacific. The majority of people stung have been swimming at coastal beaches, wading in creeks, or rivers, or close to Mangrove swamps. Invariably, the stings have occurred in the summer months during the equatorial wet season.
Flecker’s Box Jellies appear each year between the months of October through till May all around the coastline of tropical Australia as well as in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Malaysian Archipelago and the Philippines and are considered one of the greatest threats to people entering the water during the monsoon periods.
In Australia’s north, Flecker’s Box Jelly has attributed to the deaths of at least 64 people, with over 266 serious non-fatal stings.
Taking into account that until 1962 none of the Aboriginal deaths from Flecker’s Box Jelly were recorded; there could have been be many more fatalities across a hundred or more years.
A large Box Jelly can kill and digest fish larger than itself by transferring the prey up into the bell with a series of jerking movements. The Box Jelly uses the weight of the prey to jerk the bell down over the prey where digestion takes place in around 3 hours.
In the murky waters of Flecker’s Box Jellies natural habitat (inshore waters) the Box Jellies are almost impossible to see.
Full stinger suits, or a wetsuit are mandatory if entering the waters in northern coastal waters during the months form October to May. There are also many other deadly box jellies in the waters. Some may be smaller, BUT just as deadly!
SYMPTOMS/SIGNS:
Instant pain-induced screams, panic due to not knowing or being able to see the assailant. At this stage the casualty may swallow salt water and drown or be rendered unconscious by the excruciating pain. Death generally occurs within the first 15 minutes with very young or elderly victims if badly stung. Whiplash markings are visible within minutes and often develop into thick purple or brown weals. Skin is burnt so badly and so deeply that the lesions appear whitish. Shock and cardiovascular problems are often evident; cold-clammy skin and rapid pulse with irrational behaviour, depression, paralysis and respiratory distress.
FIRST AID MANAGEMENT:
- Rescue casualty
Reassure the casualty
Reduce shock
Flush injuries, especially any clinging tentacles with vinegar for 30 seconds.
This will inhibit further discharge of any remaining nematocysts
If vinegar is not available any clinging tentacles can be picked off with tips of fingers. The skin on fingertips is quite thick and in my experience I felt no stings at all in doing this
Apply the Pressure Immobilisation Technique
Do not apply pressure bandages over stings untreated with vinegar or to minor stings
Resuscitation may be required
In the management of pain ice packs do give some measure of relief.
Vinegar does not alleviate pain
It must be remembered that very few people get stung close to facilities so that in most cases management is limited and distances vast
Seek Emergency Service Assistance
For more information on Box Jellies and other Venomous Marine Life Download the eBook series available in Apple iTunes bookstore.