Box jelly fish training at the Tessabaan in Nathon, day 2

Today saw another day of Box jelly fish training at the Tessabaan in Nathon, day 2. After yesterday's training to medical staff from around the island, including doctors, nurses and Rescue staff at the 'Tessabaan' or the Koh Samui Municipality, this was day and round 2!

Dr Lakkana in action during her presentation this morning at the Tessabaan

The two days of training were initiated, organized and sponsored by the Tessabaan. Dr Lakkana, one of the two Thai box jelly fish experts, was invited to attend various meetings to discuss and improve effective box jelly fish measures around the island and to conduct the training presentations.

Besides being one of Thailand's box jelly fish experts, she is also a member of a Thai Box jelly fish work group from the Thai Bureau of Epidemiology.

Khun Chanchai Janworachaikul MD, Director of Koh Samui Hospital and Dr Lakkana talking about the life guard system or network around Koh Samui that they are strong believers in and they try to establish such a system or network for Koh Samui beaches

The members of the Box jelly fish work group have visited Koh Samui various times already, the first time, 5 years ago, earlier this year in August and earlier this month. Whenever possible I try to meet up with the work group when they visit Koh Samui, to exchange ideas and learn new things.

Dr Lakkana was also on Koh Samui last year as a guest of the THA (Thai Hotel Association) chapter Koh Samui, and conducted box jelly fish training for hotel staff around the island and the THA is trying to have Dr Lakkana back in January 2016 for more hotel staff training.

Dr Lakkana and myself with the new sign that will be distributed around Koh Samui beaches, with text in English and Thai. I'm holding a sample vinegar pole

Today's box jelly fish training at the Tessabaan in Nathon, day 2 was a general presentation about box jelly fish and Portuguese man-of-war, that covered many aspects, like the way the nematocysts or stingers of the box jelly fish work, pictures and descriptions of many real life box jelly fish incidents and prevention ideas and modules at other locations in Thailand and how to deal with box jelly fish stings.

Dr Lakkana and myself with a life guard beach chair

Today also saw the introduction of a life beach guard system, that needs to be set up around Koh Samui's beaches. Khun Chanchai Janworachaikul MD, Director of Koh Samui Hospital is a strong believer in such a system and spend a good amount of time explaining the benefits of having life guards on the beaches around the island.
Life guard chairs, vinegar first aid poles and educational warning signs will be installed at Lamai beach (with life guard on duty).  If this works, this model will be expanded to other beaches on the island. There will also be a final uniform color design, a unique design and this will be standardized.

Today's box jelly fish training at the Tessabaan in Nathon, day 2 saw a lot of Lamai hotel manager/owners, HR association, life guards and jet ski staff attend. There were about 50 attendees.

1669, the nation wide, 24 hour on duty emergency number to call in case of incidents or accidents. You call this number anywhere in Thailand and after explaining where an incident or accident happened, the operator will dispatch the nearest Rescue team and have them come to the scene of the incident

My wife and myself attended both events that were conducted at the Tessabaan by Dr Lakkana. We had to leave around noon because I had to conduct a box jelly fish awareness presentation at Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa in Bophud during the afternoon.

As you can see, a lot of initiatives are being taken and progress in the field of awareness, prevention and training has been made with many different layers of people on Koh Samui that work around Koh Samui beaches or may become involved with  victims of box jelly fish stings.

A very productive couple of days indeed, with thanks to the Tessabaan and Dr Lakkana and all people involved to make this happen.

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Camille