In our monthly first aid tip we want to concentrate on potentially life threatening emergencies caused by allergies as well as jellyfish injuries.
As ever reaction to an allergy is called anaphylaxis, it is usually caused by foods, insect stings or drugs.
If you suspect that somebody develops a severe allergic reaction look out for the following symptoms:
- Blood vessels dilate, producing red, blotchy skin
- Air passages become constricted, resulting in breathing difficulties
- Tingling mouth
- Face, lips, tongue, eyes and neck may swell
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
- Casualty may wheeze and gasp for air
What to do if someone shows signs of anaphylaxis:
- Immediately call 999 or 112
- Ask the person if he or she is carrying an epinephrine auto-injector to treat an allergic attack (for example EpiPen, Twinject).
- If the person says he or she needs to use an auto-injector, ask whether you should help inject the medication. This is usually done by pressing the auto-injector against the person’s thigh.
- Help them to sit in an upright position that helps with breathing
- Loosen tight clothing and cover the person with a blanket. Don’t give the person anything to drink.
- If there’s vomiting or bleeding from the mouth, turn the person on his or her side to prevent choking.
- If there are no signs of breathing, coughing or movement, begin CPR.
- Get emergency treatment even if symptoms start to improve. After anaphylaxis, it’s possible for symptoms to recur. Monitoring in a hospital setting for several hours is usually necessary.
An antihistamine pill isn’t sufficient to treat anaphylaxis. These medications can help relieve allergy symptoms, but work too slowly in a severe reaction to help. In severe cases, untreated anaphylaxis can lead to death within half an hour.
Jellyfish injuries
July and August is the peak season for jellyfish in Ireland. There are plenty of myths attached about how to treat jellyfish stings, such as applying urine onto the affected area. Here you will find the most up to date first aid advice for jellyfish stings in Irish waters.
Jellyfish sting symptoms:
- Intense, stinging pain, itching, rash, and raised welts.
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, lymph node swelling, abdominal pain, numbness/tingling, and muscle spasms.
- Severe reactions can cause difficulty breathing, coma, and death.
- A sting from a box jellyfish or other venomous types of jellyfish can cause death in minutes.
When to seek medical care
Seek immediate medical treatment if the person stung has:
- Difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, or intense pain at the site of the sting.
- If the person has been stung in the mouth and are having voice changes, difficulty swallowing, or swelling of the tongue or lips.
- If the sting happened to someone who is very young or old.
- If the sting involves a large area of the body, the face, or genitals.
First Aid Guidelines
These guidelines were drawn up by the Jellyfish Action Group of Ireland and Wales (which includes experts form Beaumont Poison Centre, Pre-hospital Emergency Care experts, hospital A&E consultants, local GPs, and water safety officers) and are only to be applied in Irish and Welsh waters.
- Ensure you don’t get stung yourself when aiding others.
- Remove any attached tentacles with a gloved hand, stick, or towel (none of these available use the tips of your fingers)
- Do not rub the affected area (this may result in further venom release)
- Rinse the affected area with sea-water (do not use fresh water, vinegar, alcohol or urine)
- Apply a ‘dry cold pack’ to the area (i.e. place a cold pack or ice inside a plastic bag and then wrap this package in a t-shirt or other piece of cloth)
- Seek medical attention if there is anything other than minor discomfort
- If the patient is suffering from swelling, breathing difficulties, palpitation or chest tightness then transfer to the nearest emergency department urgently
As harmless and beautiful those creatures might appear you must never underestimate the potential threat they can cause. For more information please visit http://www.jellyfish.ie/index.asp. You will find plenty of information about jellyfish in Ireland.
