How to treat a bluebottle sting

BLUEBOTTLES can sneak up on you while you are swimming and give you a nasty surprise.

The sting of a bluebottle causes  pain and leaves a whip-like red rash on the skin for two to three days. The venom can travel in the body to the lymph nodes and can cause severe pain.

This is according to an article on the Ocean Adventures website, which explains that normally a sting does not need to be treated by a medic, but if the pain is persistent or if the rash worsens medical attention must be sought.

Some people are allergic to the sting and in this case if it is not treated the sting can cause death.

To treat a bluebottle sting, start by removing any of the tentacle that is left on the skin (not with bare fingers), apply salt water (not fresh water as it make the sting worse), followed by hot water with a pinch of Epsom salts. Doctor with this solution for 15-20 minutes to kill the last part of the venom in the wound.

If the pain is unrelieved by the heat, or if hot water is not available, apply cold packs or wrapped ice.

Do not use vinegar to treat a bluebottle sting as it increases the toxic effects of this species. Rather use alcohol (methylated spirits or liquor) and try to avoid rubbing the sting.

The crushed leaf of the Carpobrotus edulis, a coastal plant, is a famous soothing cure for bluebottle stings-being a coastal plant.

Source: www.oceanadventures.co.za