What kills tourists on the beaches of Thailand: jellyfish, mosquitoes and carelessness. Beware - jellyfish in Pattaya What poisonous jellyfish look like in Thailand

Who would have thought that the desired piece of heaven on Earth might not be so safe? Thailand is a country of sun, ocean and boundless bliss, especially for tourists arriving from Russia, Europe and Asia.

But most of all it was loved by travelers. People come here almost all year round to enjoy summer, sea water, and an abundance of fruits. Unfortunately, your entire vacation can be ruined... «» !

A little about the “Portuguese boats”

A meeting with such a monster can end in defeat for a person. Unfortunately, death is also possible. The Portuguese man-of-war is a sea creature similar to a jellyfish. . This predator is able to move through water and land quite quickly.

Now let's talk about his appearance. Imagine a blue jellyfish with an airy translucent sail of the same color. From the outside it seems as if it is a balloon or an inflated float. That is why such an oceanic inhabitant was nicknamed "Portuguese boat" . The float of such a jellyfish is usually located above the water. Therefore, vacationers must look around in order to notice the approaching monster in time.

Unfortunately, sensitive vigilance does not guarantee safety. The fact is that has very thin and invisible tentacles, the length of which can reach more than 5-10 meters. The tentacles, as well as the entire body of such a jellyfish, are covered with poisonous stings.

What oceanologists are talking about

"Portuguese man-of-war" is a common name for a sea creature with a beautiful scientific name "physalia" . Such a creature can swim close to the shore, or it can go free swimming with sea and ocean currents.

Physalia is a predatory sea dweller, so it can swim up to swimmers purposefully. You need to be extremely careful not only in water, but even on land. Unfortunately dead , lying on the sand still remains poisonous.

Physalia venom is different from jellyfish venom . It can disintegrate so that the smallest particles penetrate deeper and deeper into the affected tissue. That's why It is not recommended to rub the sore spot or apply water .

Typically, physalia tends to sting the arms, legs, neck, and in a child it can envelop the entire body.

Difficult time for holidaymakers and locals

In September 2016 , like a real military column, besieged the shores of the island of Phuket. Every hour you can see on the beaches how people jump out of the water screaming or how drowned people are pulled ashore.

Sometimes it is better to go on an excursion or a boat trip, just to avoid meeting with physalia. It is not recommended to even just be on the beach without shoes, as you can step on the remains of the tentacles, even if the main body is not visible anywhere nearby.

Travel companies must warn their clients about the danger. It’s a good idea to instruct travelers before the trip so that they have time to pack the necessary things, for example, a protective swimming suit, rubber slippers. By the way, the Australians found a way out of the situation long ago - a warm swimsuit for divers. So will not be able to hit the limbs or torso. We should not forget about protecting the ankles, neck, head and hands, which remain exposed.

Real horror stories for tourists

It is really unsafe to be on the beaches of Phuket at the moment. Tourists who arrived say that they often saw people screaming and jumping out of the water onto the shore and falling. The fact is that physalia poison paralyzes muscles and causes terrible pain, which makes no sense to relieve with painkillers.

During September, several cases of physalia stinging children were recorded.

Some witnesses to the incident saw the mother bathing the child not far from the shore. She held the baby in her arms. But suddenly the child’s body was enveloped in long tentacles of physalia. The child began to choke. Local rescuers provided first aid and called "ambulance". The baby was taken to the hospital. No one knows whether he was saved. Unfortunately, even deaths have been reported.

One man was stung "Portuguese boat", but he did not ask for help. I decided to get treatment myself. He was found dead in his room surrounded by several water bottles. During his lifetime, the deceased tried to remove the poison by drinking plenty of water, but failed.

What to do?

Physalia also differs from the usual poisonous jellyfish in that the poison cannot be removed either with water or tomatoes. Local residents, as a rule, provide first aid with table vinegar. Presumably it is he who can neutralize the poison.

Only the following can protect against physalia:

• off-beach excursions;
• cruises;
• durable shoes for walking on the beach;
• swimming in hotel pools;
• Spa treatment.

Therefore, if you really want to visit Phuket, but are afraid to run into the “Portuguese boat”, select the appropriate item from the list above. Then your vacation is guaranteed to be away from sea predators.

Hello to everyone who is planning to come to Thailand but is afraid.

Today we will talk about the ominous jellyfish that attacked all the beaches of the island and made tourists and local residents terrified. At least that's what we heard on the news.

When we arrived in Phuket, the first thing we decided to do was check whether everything was really so terrible. And as always, the news made mountains out of molehills.

Portuguese man-of-war (poisonous jellyfish Physalia phesalis) were indeed found on the northern beaches of Phuket, but these are only 2 beaches, and there are over 20 of them on Phuket.

No one has seen these jellyfish on the island's popular beaches. We constantly go to Karon, Kata, Patong beaches and have not yet met a single jellyfish. There are a lot of tourists, the water in the sea is warm, everyone swims. (pictured below is a sea-wasp jellyfish).

But what really poses a problem for tourists is the pronounced rainy season, which has not happened here in the last few years. The rains are strong, unexpected (clouds come quickly and it pours like buckets) and every day. Agree, this can spoil a long-awaited beach holiday, because people go to Phuket primarily because of its magnificent beaches.

First aid for a jellyfish burn

Still, if you are afraid of jellyfish, then I will write this. One day two years ago in Pattaya I was stung by a jellyfish. It was not a Portuguese man-of-war, but an ordinary white one, which sail to the coast of Thailand every October.

I didn’t immediately understand what happened, I just started to feel a strong burning sensation in my abdomen. Later I noticed medium-sized white jellyfish in the water. We did nothing and did not treat the burn in any way. After 20 minutes, the burning stopped. Of course, it was worth treating my burn, but we didn’t know how.
If suddenly you are stung by such a jellyfish, then, firstly, try to get to the shore as soon as possible, secondly, if there are jellyfish tentacles left on the skin, quickly remove them with a stick or bag (in no case with your bare hands), - thirdly, wipe the burn area with lime juice (its acid prevents poison from entering your body), fourthly, do not bandage the burn under any circumstances. The photo below shows the Portuguese Man of War jellyfish.

If you are stung by a poisonous jellyfish (Portuguese man-of-war or sea wasp), then you can’t get rid of it with lime juice. In this case, you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible so that you can be injected with a special serum. If you can’t call an ambulance, go to the pharmacy, they are at every step in Thailand, there are qualified specialists who will help you.
To find out what the current situation is like on the beaches of Phuket, watch our video below.

Jellyfish in the coastal waters of Thailand can be found almost everywhere: be it the coast of the Gulf of Thailand or the Andaman Sea, and the islands are no exception. They can come in a variety of shapes, sizes and types, some even reach 2.5 meters in diameter. A jellyfish sting is no joke; sometimes they leave a burn so deep that it will take several months to heal.

Before jellyfish began swimming into Thai waters from Australia, it was safe to swim in them. And even if there was contact with the tentacles of a sea creature, the burn could be gotten rid of in a few days.

Today, the most dangerous jellyfish in the waters of the Thai Kingdom are Portuguese Man of War and Sea Wasps. The second type is considered the most dangerous, since the jellyfish’s venom can kill in 4 minutes. Due to its translucent body, the sea wasp easily camouflages itself in the water column. It is very difficult to notice. The size of the jellyfish's dome can be compared to a basketball, but its tentacles reach a length of up to three meters. The larger the size of the Sea Wasp, the greater the danger. If small individuals leave scars and burns, then large ones can cause paralysis of the lungs and stop the heart. As a rule, if a jellyfish is spotted within the beach, it is completely closed for a while. The only salvation from a bite is the timely administration of an antidote.

The Portuguese Man of War is much easier to spot, as its dome is painted a bright blue. They are not as poisonous as the Sea Wasp, and the sting results in pulmonary edema or anaphylactic shock.

A human is too big a prey for a jellyfish, so it won’t specifically attack you. It's another matter if she stings you as a result of a defensive reaction. If while swimming you see something similar to a jellyfish, it is better to freeze. The more intensely you swing your arms, the more likely you are to get stung.

When is jellyfish season?

You can see jellyfish in the Kingdom at any time of the year. Most of them are observed in the period from May to November, and all due to the fact that the sea is regularly stormy at this time, and poisonous individuals are washed up on the coast. There is an interesting pattern in the country: the closer you are to the equator, the greater the number of jellyfish.

Jellyfish in Thailand are significantly different from those found in the Black Sea, and a sting from them quite often brings a lot of trouble, and sometimes even ends in death.

What to do if you are stung by a jellyfish?

If you are stung by a jellyfish, you will need immediate first aid. The damaged area must be washed with lemon juice, vinegar solution or sea water. These substances will help reduce the effect of the poison to a minimum. The duration of rinsing is up to 60 seconds, this is exactly the amount of time required to neutralize the poison. To treat the affected area, it is forbidden to use alcohol, fresh or carbonated water, as they will only provoke the spread of the poison.

Then you need to remove the remains of the jellyfish from the skin. Use the blunt side of a knife, tweezers, a plastic card or other available means for these purposes, but in no case remove the residue with your bare hands, as poison may still remain in them.

The effect of the poison in some types of jellyfish begins only after a quarter of an hour, so if an allergic person, an elderly person or a child is burned, go immediately to the hospital so that doctors have time to take the necessary measures.

After first aid has been provided, you can use ointments or creams with an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect.

If the burn does not require hospitalization and you intend to treat it at home, follow these recommendations:

1. Limit physical activity, or better yet, go to bed rest. Avoid direct sunlight and dehydration.
2. Drink at least 2.5 liters of water per day; orange or apple juice or mineral water are excellent. The liquid will help break down toxins and remove poisons. At this time, you should not abuse coffee, green tea, cola or alcohol.
3. To get rid of pain, take ibuprofen or paracetamol based products. You can also reduce pain with ice.
4. To reduce swelling, hormonal creams based on Betamethasone, Mometasone or Triamcinolone are suitable.
5. Antihistamines will help reduce itching.
6. Panthenol will not help in this situation, since the jellyfish leaves a chemical burn.

How to avoid a jellyfish sting?

No one can be 100% protected from a jellyfish sting. But if you adhere to at least the basic rules, you can try to protect yourself. Before you go into the water, look for slippery creatures swimming around. In addition, avoid swimming at night, since in the dark it is almost impossible to see the jellyfish. Pay attention to the Thais, they almost always swim in protective suits and this is no coincidence. This is how they protect themselves from unpleasant bites.

If you see a jellyfish nearby, immediately swim away from it. Just try not to make sudden movements, as you can get entangled in the poisonous tentacles and get burned. Do not go for water treatments alone, despite the fact that there are no deadly species near the coast, there is still a chance of getting a burn and it is unknown how your body will react to it.

Warn your children not to touch jellyfish, even if they see them washed up on the shore. In this state, the poison still remains in the tentacles and can cause serious harm.

– swim in the Andaman Sea, admire the vibrant landscapes, and see the exotic underwater world of the country. But how many of them know about the danger that awaits in the most unexpected place? Which of them will be afraid of an inconspicuous jellyfish? But it is precisely such an inconspicuous creature that you should be wary of. So who are they, jellyfish?

Jellyfish: who are they?

Jellyfish- these are marine animals whose body consists of a gelatinous cap and tentacles attached to it. Some scientists argue that these are not living beings, but plants. The reason for this opinion was the method of reproduction of jellyfish.

Jellyfish live only in salty waters. They can be found even in the icy Arctic, but most often they live in the tropics and subtropics.

They feed on plankton or small fish. They capture their victims with long tentacles, which can reach a length of several meters in particularly large species, with poisonous cells scattered over their entire surface.

Jellyfish season in Thailand

Jellyfish in Thailand are common on the shores of both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. The largest concentration of these animals can be observed closer to the equator. From late spring (April–May) to mid-autumn (October), their numbers increase sharply in the waters surrounding Thailand.

And although this period of the year is a quiet time in terms of tourism, the authorities still force people to set up nets to catch poisonous jellyfish. Despite such precautions, the smallest individuals still penetrate the barrier and pose a danger to humans.

What do poisonous jellyfish look like in Thailand?

A jellyfish sting in Thailand does not lead to death, but Australian “friends” often swim into the waters of the Andaman Sea. These creatures are much more dangerous.

sea ​​wasp- This is an invisible, translucent jellyfish in the water column. The diameter of its body can reach 60 – 90 cm, and the length of the tentacles can be as much as 3 meters! Burns from small animals leave scars, but large animals are able to “put down” an adult in 4 minutes. To save the victim, he should be administered a certain antidote. If even one sea wasp is spotted in Thai waters, all nearby beaches are closed.

Portuguese man of war is a jellyfish with a dark blue cap, approximately 30 cm in diameter. This species is much easier to spot not only due to its bright color, but also because these jellyfish are found in the upper waters of the sea. The bite of the Portuguese Man of War causes pulmonary edema.

Why are jellyfish dangerous?

Depending on the size and type of jellyfish, they can pose varying degrees of danger to tourists. Many of you know these cute creatures living in the waters of the Black Sea. You picked them up, looked at them, and nothing happened. So why should trouble happen to Thai jellyfish?

REMEMBER! All jellyfish are poisonous! It’s just that the stinging cells of some of them produce such a weak poison that it is not even able to penetrate the protective layer of the skin, let alone cause harm to the body.

Thai jellyfish are not as safe as those from the Black Sea. They can not only leave burns that feel similar to a nettle burn, but also cause paralysis of the respiratory center or cardiac arrest, which will ultimately lead to death. If such a situation happens far out to sea, the person will not even be able to swim to shore due to severe pain and muscle spasms. Some jellyfish can only cause mild irritation and redness of the skin.

Therefore, you should not enter the water if you see jellyfish there. However, there are cases where jellyfish have stung tourists, although the latter did not see them within their field of view. The fact is that some jellyfish are so huge that their dome can reach a diameter of 2 - 3 m. Accordingly, the tentacles will be no less. And since the color of most creatures is transparent, it is very difficult to see the thin thread of the “leg” of a jellyfish in the blue sea.

Cautions

Before traveling to Thailand, find out if coastal waters have been tested for the presence of jellyfish.

Avoid swimming in muddy water after a storm or during the rainy season. Often at this time, dangerous jellyfish such as irukandji and box jellyfish migrate to northern latitudes. They are small, but kill instantly.

Try to bathe and swim in clothes: they will soften the bite.

Before bathing, smear yourself with any kind of oil: it will create a film that will protect you from the suckers of the jellyfish.

Pay attention to warning signs.

Before you go into the water, look carefully for jellyfish.

If you feel the slippery cap of a jellyfish underwater, do not panic: its dome is not dangerous. But it’s still worth sailing as far away from this creature as possible.

Do not touch the jellyfish that is lying on the sand - it can still bite you.

Do not pick up dead jellyfish - most likely, the poison is still produced by the cells of its body.

If you see a jellyfish, stop any body movements: perhaps it will not see you as a threat and will simply swim past.

First aid for a jellyfish burn

If you feel a bite, do not scream or jerk your legs under any circumstances. This way you will scare the already frightened jellyfish and become even more entangled in its tentacles. The longer and denser the contact, the greater the dose of poison you will receive.

Immediately go ashore and remove the pieces of remaining tentacles. To do this, take tweezers or a clean stick. It is strictly prohibited to touch the affected area with unprotected hands!

You should always take citrus fruits with you to the beach - lemon, lime - or vinegar to wash the burn area. It is strictly forbidden to think that urine has antiseptic properties and therefore wet the wound with it - this will only worsen the situation, as will washing the bite with soda or fresh water.

You should not scratch or bandage the affected area - this will speed up the spread of the poison through the blood.

Call a doctor and wait for qualified medical care.

Not the most terrible creature. In addition to them, there are a huge number of poisonous inhabitants, whose unfair stories always scare tourists, and jellyfish are no exception. There really are jellyfish here. There are even a number of rules that tourists should follow when meeting jellyfish.

Where and under what conditions are jellyfish most often found in Thailand?

There are a lot of jellyfish in Thailand and they are found almost everywhere, but most often they are spotted off the coast of Phuket, Chua Hin and Krabi, and least often off the coast of Koh Samui.

The appearance of jellyfish mainly depends on seasonal changes: from the end of autumn until the onset of spring, there are practically no jellyfish.

Jellyfish to watch out for in Thailand

The touch of any jellyfish is quite painful for humans. But deadly poisonous ones are rare. There are only a few types. Many people are afraid of jellyfish stings, but this is not at all true, jellyfish poison is contained only in the tentacles, and even the hat is absolutely not dangerous.

The sea wasp is the most dangerous type of jellyfish in Thailand; it is also called the box jellyfish. A rare visitor to Thai waters, who accidentally swam from the coast of Australia. In appearance it resembles a transparent basketball. During hunting, the tentacles increase to 3 meters. When a sea wasp appears in the water, swimming should be stopped immediately. This has already happened in Krabli. Then detailed first aid instructions with a picture of a jellyfish were posted everywhere. All rescuers were equipped with vinegar, which is used as first aid. After the last appearance, specialist hydrologists began to constantly monitor the waters throughout the Gulf of Thailand.

Contact with the tentacles of a box jellyfish is fatal, causing a heart attack or respiratory paralysis. Scientists have already invented an antidote, but there is one drawback: the poison acts very quickly, a person can die within three minutes, without even having time to reach the shore. If a person still survives the bite, then contact with the tentacles will leave scars.

The next representative of box jellyfish, mainly found near sandy beaches, also has a transparent hat, but it is very small in size, maximum 4 cm. When touched, a person’s blood pressure increases sharply, and the consequences of this can be anything.

The Portuguese man-of-war is slightly inferior in its poisonous properties to other types of jellyfish. But it is easily noticeable in the water, since it floats exclusively on the surface of the water, with a bright blue color. It has very long tentacles, the touch of which causes swelling in the lungs and anaphylactic shock.

Providing first aid to victims of jellyfish venom

If the jellyfish does touch you with its tentacles, the first thing you need to do is get out of the water. With a hand protected from poison, remove all remnants of the tentacles. Then you should treat the affected area with vinegar, it will kill the stinging cells. It is imperative to visit a doctor, as in addition to pain, there may be cramps and even fever. Most insurance policies cover such cases, so you should be extra vigilant.

Reminder for tourists

Many tourists, having gone on vacation to Thailand, have never seen a single jellyfish. Poisonous jellyfish, of course, exist in the waters of Thailand, but to face the truth, in most cases, encounters with such coelenterate creatures end happily, at most the skin turns red, but this soon passes.

But tourists must still take precautions. If there is a danger in the water, the authorities will definitely warn about it by posting warning signs, you need to watch out for this when coming to the beach. It is best to swim only in clear water, looking around. It is better to avoid windy and rainy weather when swimming at sea due to large waves. If something happens, you should immediately consult a doctor, then a successful outcome is more likely.