*Contrary to popular belief, Dr. Dr. Tamar Lotan, an expert on jellyfish sting mechanisms from the University of Haifa, explains that vinegar, urine, Coca-Cola or any other popular substance is worthless against the sting of the jellyfish that plague the shores of our country, and in some cases, it can only harm; And: Are we really stung by jellyfish eggs?*
"There is no point or need to pour vinegar, urine, Coca Cola, sand or any other popular substance on a jellyfish burn. The belief that vinegar helps is wrong and stems from a lack of understanding of the professional literature," explains Dr. Tamar Lotan, a biologist from the Haifa University School of Marine Sciences who studies jellyfish and is an expert on their stinging mechanisms.
According to Dr. Lotan, the popular belief that vinegar, or any other acidic substance, can contradict the venom mechanism of the jellyfish is based on studies that showed that vinegar prevents the continued activation of the burning mechanisms in the hunting arms of the box jellyfish, a deadly jellyfish that is not is on the coasts of the country or in the Mediterranean Sea. However, in the case of "our" jellyfish - the wandering filamentous jellyfish - the vinegar does not have any effect on its burning mechanisms and even in some cases the use of vinegar can be harmful to the resulting burn. She even added that the explanation that the vinegar neutralizes the basic substance in the jellyfish poison is not true because the poison itself is naturally found in an acidic environment. "The treatment for a wandering thread burn is washing with water and soothing the affected area with medical preparations. If the burn is over a large area or the body's reaction is acute such as strong swelling, redness or an allergic reaction, you should go to get medical treatment," said Dr. Lotan, who was a partner in the development of the preparation against the burn as well as other medical uses of the burn mechanisms.
"Jellyfish have millions of tiny, syringe-like stinging mechanisms, which are mainly found on the jellyfish's hunting arms," explains Dr. Lotan. "The syringe, which is about a hundredth of a millimeter in size, contains a needle with multiple lugs. Contact of human skin with the jellyfish hunter's arms causes the injection system to be activated. When the syringe is activated, it develops a high pressure of 150 atmospheres - 70 times the pressure found in a car wheel - which causes the needle to be released and inserted into the skin with the same force as the speed of a gun bullet as it exits the muzzle. The jellyfish's arms carry millions of tiny syringes and a person who has been burned is expected to receive about a million needles per Sgt. The syringes inject poison into the body and cause inflammation and pain."
Even the "jellyfish eggs" that sting us even when we don't see jellyfish are a popular invention that has no connection with reality. According to Dr. Lotan, the same hunting arms of the jellyfish continue to float in the water even after they have been detached from the jellyfish and since they are tiny and transparent, it is very difficult to see them. However, despite being severed from the jellyfish, some of the millions of burning mechanisms found in each such arm can continue to operate even after being severed from the jellyfish, which is why the water burns.
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Eric...
You explained the sweet water issue beautifully and correctly... I liked.
Skeptic.... did you get to try fresh water on a jellyfish sting??? And if you didn't succeed...I recommend not trying it (-:
Skeptic, those who recommend not washing in fresh water, this is because fresh water increases the release of venom from the venom cells of the jellyfish. And also when you have a jerrycan that you brought for drinking and it is immediately available.
bay
Following the debate here, I read a bit on the subject, including the issue of washing with water immediately after the burn.
According to what I understand, there is no objection to washing in fresh water compared to sea water due to salinity considerations. What else ? It is generally recommended to wash in seawater because it is more readily available than fresh water. Washing in sea water requires walking a few meters to the place of washing, on the other hand, washing in fresh water requires walking tens of meters or even hundreds of meters. The long walk to a place of fresh water causes the poison to act more strongly; Therefore, as mentioned, washing in the nearest sea water is preferable.
Correction *** I mentioned that Dr. Lotan wrote a study.... I meant the conclusion that came to me following research!!!
On every official website on behalf of KofH, etc., it is recommended to use vinegar unequivocally
I would be happy if Dr. Lotan would publish about the same studies she is talking about.
Thank you and have a burn-free Sabbath (-:
Mr. Avi Blizovsky Hello,
All the publications I have read on the subject emphasize why not to use fresh water against jellyfish stings.
And the reason sounds logical that it is not recommended to wash with fresh water because it increases the release of venom from the venom cells of the jellyfish.
Dr. Lotan wrote a study on avoiding burns and through the research she assumes and thinks that the treatment of burns is equal to the treatment of burns. And I emphasize an assumption and not an exact scientific determination and the difference here is thin... between avoidance and immediate treatment (first aid)!!!
What worries me... there are readers who understand that sweet heaven is the solution.... From my experience (as well as that of others) fresh water only increased the burning!!!
Kudos to Dr. Lotan who publishes her research... And she deals with science... and as we know science = at least 2 scientists who do research on the same subject (each one separately) and reach the same result = exact science and the same result.
In short, the study is based on Dr. Lotan and her claims only!
Update, I have now spoken with Dr. Lotan, and she explained that the preparation she developed does not constitute a solution to the burning problem, it generally deals with the phase of preventing the burning in advance upon entering the water and does not treat the burning if it occurred afterwards. She has simply seen too many cases of people spilling vinegar and claims that such a burn should be treated like a burn from boiling water and not with folk remedies such as vinegar.
As a matter of fact, she suggests to those affected by a burn to go to a pharmacy (or in the case of a severe burn even to a doctor) and consult with them regarding the relevant preparations according to the recommendation of those pharmacists or doctors. The main thing is not to put vinegar.
Her position as the developer of the preventive preparation, allows her to know the stinging mechanism of the jellyfish in depth.
By the way, the preparation, whose name is saved in the system, is almost impossible to obtain in Israel.
Hope the matter is clear now.
Avi Blizovsky
Batya and the others: I left another request with the Haifa University spokesperson.
Correction: these = except. Sorry.
The public sees importance in this news, those who find out that it is advertising - not so hidden.
This is not an advertisement leaflet, this is supposed to be a press release from the University of Haifa. And unlike YNET and NRG, I gave them the credit, that is, the science website clearly states the source, no need to guess. It seems that they were careful and did not explicitly write the name of the preparation but the fact that all the other media published the information due to its importance.
The public also sees importance in this news, a fact that so far - in 12 hours, over a thousand surfers have accessed it (on the knowledge site).
Looks like a hidden advertisement for a medical preparation against jellyfish.
Keep putting vinegar, it helps!
The article is based on an advertisement flyer that was sent simultaneously to several science articles in newspapers. Today (or yesterday or the day before) an article with the exact same content appeared on the nrg website, the ynet website and about ten other websites in Israel. I don't believe in such a coincidence unless it originates from one advertisement.
If anyone doubts what I said regarding the publication of a bulletin organized at the same time in the last few days - they should do a Google search for the phrase "jellyfish vinegar" and use the advanced search menu that only searches for the messages published in the last week.
The matter is under review with the spokeswoman of the university.
There is a problem if the text does not indicate more emphatically the self-interest, apparently, only apparently, of the interviewee.
From personal experience:
Lotions for protection from the sun's radiation that contain fatty substances that protect against burns.
Sarcasm planted
The product is called Safe Sea.
It can be purchased in several stores in Israel from the local distributor:
http://www.amourdeadsea.com/
"said Dr. Lotan, who was a partner in the development of the anti-burn preparation as well as other medical uses of the burn mechanisms." Just forgot to write the name of the preparation and how much it costs.
I don't know where they got this research from, I've been surfing all my life for about 20 years and I've been stung hundreds of times by jellyfish and vinegar saved me like magic as long as you put it on a very short time after the sting.
The times I didn't, burns developed and then scars.
An interesting argument, since, for example, in the documentary series "BITE ME", broadcast on the NG channel, Dr. Mike Leahy, the presenter, poured vinegar after being deliberately burned by a jellyfish and claimed that the pain stopped immediately.
Personally, I know that vinegar, for example, stops the itching sensation caused by mosquito bites. Vinegar immediately reduces the tingling sensation, which creams and ointments cannot do so quickly and effectively...
"The treatment for a wandering thread burn is washing with water and soothing the affected area with medical preparations".... same as?