Photo: KT Files
Release date: Friday, August 23, 2024 at 6:00 AM
At this time of year, jellyfish are a common sight in the UAE’s waters. Their stings are not life-threatening, but they can be extremely painful. To help swimmers and beachgoers, a UK-based company has launched a wearable device called Stingblade, which claims to safely remove the jellyfish’s tiny spines from the skin without activating them, minimizing pain and preventing further stings.
Water sports enthusiast Mark Dyer said he developed the StingBlade after being stung by jellyfish many times over the years. One particularly painful incident happened while he was swimming off the coast of Sicily in 2018. Dyer was stung around 20 times while swimming through a swarm of jellyfish, and recalls having enough venom on his skin that, if fully absorbed, could have caused serious health problems. Dyer used a diving knife to scrape off most of the stingers, which led to the creation of the StingBlade.
“We wanted to create something that would help people deal with jellyfish stings safely and easily, especially as encounters with jellyfish are on the rise,” Dyer told Khaleej Times.
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How the Sting Blade works
The compact jellyfish removal tool, called the StingBlade, is designed to be worn on the arm like a blood pressure cuff. The plastic blades are made from recycled fishing nets from Cornwall, UK. Dyer explained that his mission goes beyond simply making a useful product. “It’s about educating people on what to do if they get stung by a jellyfish and preventing the injury from becoming worse,” he added.
Once a jellyfish’s spines attach to your skin, they lock in with a sharp grip. Touching them can release venom deep into the skin. Dyer advises not to touch the spines directly, and recommends using a sting blade to carefully scrape the spines away, minimizing pain and venom exposure.
Sting Blade
Dyer also pointed out some common mistakes people make when it comes to treating jellyfish stings: “Rubbing the area can force more toxins into the skin, and using cold water can actually release more venom,” he warned. He recalled a time when a lifeguard applied vinegar to a sting, activating the tiny spines and releasing toxins near the spine, causing even more severe injury.
Rising water temperatures and overfishing make the situation worse
Environmentalists say the increase in jellyfish may be linked to warming ocean temperatures and overfishing, which reduces the populations of jellyfish’s natural predators, such as sea turtles. Dyer stressed that overfishing is making the problem worse in the world’s oceans, including the UAE.
The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) regularly advises swimmers to avoid contact with jellyfish and keep a safe distance, saying seven species of jellyfish inhabit Abu Dhabi’s waters, with the most common being the moon jellyfish and blue jellyfish.
Jellyfish defend themselves using specialized stinging cells called nematocysts on their tentacles, thousands of which reside on each tentacle, each capable of delivering venom into the skin.
While most jellyfish stings are harmless, medical experts warn that some stings can cause significant discomfort and health problems. The EAD also warns that people with allergies should be especially careful, as stings can cause severe skin reactions.
Symptoms of a jellyfish sting can range from mild to severe, depending on the type of jellyfish and the person’s sensitivity to the sting. Mild symptoms can include pain, itching, and a burning sensation, while more severe stings can cause difficulty breathing, chest pain, muscle cramps, skin blisters, and even nausea and abdominal pain. In rare cases, immediate medical attention may be required.
Stingblade’s operations director, Simi Kalia, said they expect strong demand and are now selling the product in hotels and dive centres across the UAE.
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