We’ve been at the beach before when jellies invade. It can be like a scene out of a horror movie.
"But something as basic as the 2-year-old crying on the beach from this horrible sting, and we have nothing better than to spray vinegar on her," U.H. Researcher Angel Yanagihara said.
Besides vinegar there are other home remedies like baking soda, meat tenderizer, even urinating on it.
But the most recent review says don’t do that.
Yanagihara has personal experience with the painful stings. A 1997 incident launched her research into the venom the creatures discharge into your body. She know it’s not only painful, but dangerous as well.
"We have no loss of life in Hawaii, that we know of linked to box jellies," Yanagihara said.
The latest medical review suggests hot water and Lidocaine may be the best medicine for now. Yanagihara is hoping to further emergency medical care.
"In the late 70′s to move the standard of care from alcohol, copious amounts of alcohol to vinegar," Yanagihara said. "And now we’re sort of at that next point in time to move that standard of care ball forward again, using scientific data."
She’s come up with a product that should do just that.
"We started at the beach, I got terribly stung. We took it to the bench, do the biochemistry. And now we go back to the beach, have something that we can offer both first responders," Yanagihara said.
As for when the product will hit store shelves, or be stocked at lifeguard stands across the state you’ll have to stay tuned for that.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
