Archive for the 'Jellyfish' Category
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
Festo, in conjunction with the specialist display technology company, Effekt-Technik GmbH, has developed a bionic jellyfish. Say hello to AquaJelly.
The bionic jellies were created to study swarming behaviour. Each AquaJelly is able to sense various aspects of its environment and to function completely autonomously, but it’s also equipped with communicative faculties that enable it to cooperate with other members of the group.
I’m not quite sure what all that means but here it is in action.
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
Large numbers of jellyfish have been invading Galveston waters and beaches. They like the warmer waters… especially the cabbageheads, sea nettles and the man-of-war.
On Sunday, Galveston Beach Patrol treated 100 jellyfish stings. An 11-year-old boy was even transported by ambulance to the University of Texas Medical Branch.
Pack your vinegar!
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Wednesday, April 30th, 2008
Ocean Safety officials have picked up more than 800 box jellyfish this morning in Waikiki as the peak of this month’s influx is expected today.
More than 100 were discovered on the beach at Makaha and more than 25 at Pokai Bay along the Leeward Coast.
So far, no stings have been reported… yet.
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Thursday, April 3rd, 2008
A 10-year-old Swedish girl died on Thursday morning after she was stung by a jellyfish on island of Koh Lanta (a popular tourist destination for many Swedes) in Thailand.
The girl went into anaphylactic shock after being stung.
She suffered a quick, hypersensitive reaction and was taken to hospital where doctors worked for an hour and a half but couldn’t save her life.
[source]
Monday, December 31st, 2007
A box jellyfish warning is being issued for Oahu, HI starting tomorrow and ending Friday by the City and County of Honolulu Emergency Services Deparment Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services division.
If you’re allergic to jellyfish stings, stay out of the water. The most commonly affected areas are Waikiki Beach and Hanauma Bay.
And if you get stung… flush the sting area with white vinegar. Anyone experiencing breathing difficulty, muscle cramps/spasms, and/or persistent pain should seek immediate medical attention.
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Sunday, December 30th, 2007
Swarms of jellyfish stung nearly 300 swimmers hoping to cool off from a heat wave in a southeastern beach in Brazil.
At least 15 people were treated for severe stings. Many of the injured arrived at medical centers Friday and Saturday crying in agony from the pain. Most of them were treated and released. (I wonder what happened to the others…)
[source]
Friday, November 30th, 2007
A Brisbane medical student is recovering in the hospital in north Queensland, AU after being stung on the neck by an irukandji jellyfish.
Sean Bills, 26, was celebrating his graduation with fellow students from the University of Queensland when he was stung while swimming off Hayman Island.
Sean was wearing a stinger suit, but it didn’t protect his hands, face and neck. The pain was so intense he fell to the ground, writhing in pain and crying.
Seans’ friends used vinegar as first aid on the sting, before he was airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital and given morphine for the pain.
He said he’ll never go swimming off north Queensland during the stinger season again, which, in case you didn’t know, runs from October to May.
[source]
Sunday, September 9th, 2007
A ROTC officer died and two others were hospitalized last Saturday after being stung by box jellyfish at Playa del Sur Beach Resort in the Philippines.
Juvelyn Campos, 18, was already dead when she arrived at the hospital. She was brought to hospital about five minutes after the box jellyfish stung her.
She died from anaphylactic shock due to her allergic reaction to the toxins from the jellyfish.
The three were among 36 ROTC officials who held a party to celebrate their recent promotions. Some party…
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Sunday, August 12th, 2007
Man… New Smyrna Beach just can’t get a break. The jellyfish are back in full force this weekend.
The Volusia County Beach Patrol said they’ve treated hundreds of beachgoers for jellyfish stings, and every lifeguard had to ask for more vinegar to treat the stings.
A 16-year-old girl was taken to Bert Fish Medical Center after she went into shock from a sting.
[source]
Wednesday, August 8th, 2007
A rare jellyfish has made its way to some San Diego beaches and is stinging swimmers by the hundreds.
The Black Sea Nettle usually stays off the shores, but lifeguards estimate about 200 swimmers are getting stung daily.
Video taken at La Jolla Shores showed the jellies floating in the surf and washed up on the shore. They’re burgundy in color and have a Jell-o-like consistency.
The giant jellyfish have not been seen in San Diego since 2005.
Watch it wiggle… see it jiggle…
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