Click here for information on surfing in Cork - Surf Schools, Beaches, Surf Shops.
Latest Forum Posts
Topic Author Last Post
Proposed Beach By-Laws for Cork Hynser Tue 09 Mar 2010 @ 13:19
6' 4" safari spider niall hogan Tue 09 Mar 2010 @ 09:05
DEAL OF THE YEAR basscase Fri 05 Mar 2010 @ 16:05
js surfboard for sale 6,5 basscase Fri 05 Mar 2010 @ 16:02
Stolen bobser Thu 04 Mar 2010 @ 03:27
 
Register Now! | Forgot your password?
Username: Password: Remember Me
Random Pics
Refresh Pics
View Galleries »

Portugese Man-O-War Alert

Posted on: Tue 05 Jan 2010 by Enygma

Fears over deadly Man-O-War influx

Apparently this was mentioned on Irish radio today also. I've heard reports of people seeing these things in Irish waters, and I saw one myself in France which isn't too far away really.

Here's some info taken from Wikipedia

Research suggests that in the normal course the best treatment for a Portuguese Man O' War sting is:
(a) to avoid any further contact with the Portuguese Man O' War and to carefully remove any remnants of the creature from the skin (taking care not to touch them directly with fingers or any other part of the skin to avoid secondary stinging) then
(b) to apply salt water to the affected area (not fresh water, which tends to make the affected area worse)
If eyes have been affected they should be irrigated with copious amounts of room temperature tap water for at least 15 minutes and if vision blurs, or the eyes continue to tear, hurt, swell, or are light sensitive after irrigating, or there is any concern, a doctor should be seen as soon as possible;
(c) to follow up with the application of hot water (45 °C/113 °F) to the affected area, which eases the pain of a sting by denaturing the toxins.
Vinegar dousing has been shown to cause strengthening of nematocysts from the larger (P. physalis) man-of-war species (that is, increasing the toxin and worsening the symptoms) while the effect of vinegar on the nematocysts of the smaller species (which has less severe stings) has been confirmed that will provoke hemorrhaging. Vinegar is therefore not recommended.
Hopefully it won't affect anyone but at least be prepared in case you do come across one.



Sponsors
SurfGTown Surf School Sponsors - King Of Watersports - Click here for more info Paddy Wax