More box jelly fish training on awareness and prevention in Chaweng

More box jelly fish training on awareness and prevention in Chaweng

Once more there was More box jelly fish training on awareness and prevention in Chaweng this time at the Chaweng Regent, earlier this week.

Over 70 staff from various hotels along Chaweng beach, plus selected staff from a few hotels at other parts of the island gathered Thursday afternoon for a presentation in Thai language. There was also one representative form Koh Phangan in the audience.

More box jelly fish training on awareness and prevention in Chaweng; the audience during the presentation

There's a reason to keep the awareness going and alive, this year in August alone, 17 people were hospitalized because of box jelly fish encounters, compared to 16 people being hospitalized over the entire year 2016! That's a big increase and strangely enough, the majority of cases happened on Lamai beach during August. It was to such an extent that it even made it to the national news and t some stage complete closure of Lamai beach has been considered.

on August 12th around 50 people were treated for jelly fish sting (note; NOT box jelly fish) on just one single day. The species of jelly fish that caused this havoc is still to be determined.

More box jelly fish training on awareness and prevention in Chaweng; presenters and staff of the recent presentation

Dr. Lakkana from Chiang Mai University and one of the two Thai box jelly fish experts, had just completed a field study and visit to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan and during the same visit she completed training with a few selected people on Koh Samui so they can handle and deliver presentations in the Thai language about box jelly fish prevention and awareness.

At the moment it's box jelly fish high season, so be prepared, ideally wear full body lycra suits, have plenty of vinegar available in case of a sting and call 1669 for assistance and help.

Don't run into the water, to give the box jelly fish a chance to evade you, they prefer to go their own way without being tangled up with humans.

Behind the scenes there are plenty of developments going on to deal with the box jelly fish situation around the Gulf islands.

Just over a month ago, Kim Moss, an Australian expert on box jelly fish netting visited Koh Samui and Koh Phangan as part of the continuing awareness and safety campaigns going on.

Awareness is rising and prevention measures are expanding, it's a slow but continuing process. More signs have been put up around the island, new flyers and posters in Thai, English and Chinese have been produced and more hotels start to have vinegar stations on their beach fronts.

Don't be afraid but be aware, know how to react in case of a box jelly fish sting; 

-make sure that the rescuer is safe from toxic jelly jellyfish

-bring the innured out of the sea to a safe place (like the beach or boat)

-call for help or call 1669. Stay with the injured person bacuase they can become unconscious within minutes

-calm down the injured person, to prevent more toxic stingers firing off

-DO NOT RUB THE WOUND

-check for live signs, if needed give CPR (when unconscious) and treat the affected body parts with plenty of vinegar (DO NOT USE FRESH WATER)

If no vinegar is available, use soft drinks.

Read more about box jelly fish around Koh Samui and it's neighboring islands here. 

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Camille