Chapter 2- The Diving Environment The Diving Environment 55 from the more dangerous ones can be avoided with proper precautions such as full body suits, hood, gloves, and boots. Three members are particularly known for their ability to sting: fire coral (figure 2-23)(Millipora sp.), the Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia sp.), and stinging hydroids. Many members of this group of carnivorous animals look like innocent plants. The hydrozoans produce symptoms which range from mild itching to a severe painful sting. They produce redness of the skin, urticarial rash (appearing similar to hives), blistering vesicles, and pustule formation. These may be followed by severe itching and skin eruptions. Victims of Physalia stings report an “electro shock-like” sensation followed by severe pain. This can be followed by systemic symptoms such as chills, fever, fatigue, headache, muscle cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Scyphozoans or true jellyfish are classified into three groups according to their ability to sting: 1. relatively mild (Aurelia, Pelagia, Carybdea) 2. moderate to severe (Cassiopea, Cyanea) 3. severe to highly dangerous (Tamoya, Chiropsalmus, Chironex). The symptoms of jellyfish stings range from a mild prickly sensation to itching, burning, throbbing, and shooting pain. The skin becomes red, swollen (edema), has a rash, and may blister, hemorrhage (petechial), and experience tissue death (necrosis) through its full thickness. In the more severe cases, one may find muscle cramps, difficulty breathing, lung congestion (pulmonary edema), loss of consciousness, or even death. Treatment of jellyfish stings includes the use of household white vinegar, which prevents the nematocysts from most species from firing. Removing tentacles from the victim’s skin may pose a danger to the person assisting, so always wear gloves and then wash off the gloves thoroughly. Pain relief may be obtained by giving aspirin. More severe cases may require CPR, morphine, and eventually a hospital respirator. The four aims of treatment are to relieve the pain, deactivate the toxins, keep the victim breathing, and control any shock-like symptoms. FIGURE 2-23. FIRE CORAL FIGURE 2-24. CORAL REEF
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