Going to the beach this summer? Watch out for the jellyfish and sea urchins that may ruin your day. Many travelers may prefer swimming in beaches to relieve themselves from stress. But the warm weather also encourages marine creatures such as jellyfish to come to the surface of the water.
The jellyfish of “dikya” is a transparent and bell shaped creature with tentacles that are more than three feet in lenght and deliver a powerful sting as defense mechanism when it is disturbed by humans.
When it stings, it secretes a substance that causes inflammation of the muscles. You experience stinging sensation that is very hot and painful. But it does not necessarily mean that you will die. The portion that was stung can be treated with topical corticosteroid and even with human urine, it has properties that can neutralize the toxins delivered through the sting.
While sea urchins or the black, immobile sea creatures found near coastlines also sting when they feel threatened. The same is true with flat or stone fishes. An effective first aid treatment to stings of sea urchins is the application of vinegar to the affected part of the body. Vinegar nuetralizes the PH level in the body after the toxins trigger an imbalance.
Meanwhile, be also warn with caterpillar or “higad” cause it has spines or coarse hairs that may cause rashes when they come in contact to the skin of a person. Watch out for the higad that may fall on the trees. If you want to remove the spines that have been embedded in your skin, you can use a scotch tape and press it on the affected part. The spines will cling to it and it will be easily removed.
Source: Manila Bulletin
