Medusa-cross: description, photo. What should I do if I am bitten by a jellyfish?

Often during a holiday at sea, people seek help from doctors about the bite of a small marine animal. Many do not know how to behave in such unpleasant cases and what measures to take in the first place.

Among the huge number of species of jellyfish there are also very dangerous, as many do not know. This article presents important information about this insidious petty creature, which has the name of a jellyfish: a photo, description, features of habits and information about what should be done and what should not be done with its bite.

Habitat

Medusa-cross (or jellyfish-cross) - poisonous hydromedusa. It dwells mostly in the coastal waters of the North Pacific (from China to California).

A tiny and quite dangerous animal is often found in the Sea of Japan, and hence, also off the coasts of Korea, Japan and in the Far Eastern part of the coastal waters of Russia. Medusa-cross in Primorye is more common on Shamor (bay) and "Mayak" (tourist complex). It was also noted in the western part of the Atlantic, where it was brought by sea vessels.

Jellyfish-cross: photo, description

This is a rather poisonous creature of small size, hiding in the marine thickets, but sometimes going to the shores.

The body of the jellyfish is completely transparent, so all its internal organs that represent the shape of the cross are clearly visible. It is often called a crosspiece.

Physicians are often treated by people bitten by these animals.

The crosspiece has a yellowish-green color, a transparent high dome with a diameter of 2.5 cm and 60 thin tentacles bearing thickenings, which are a cluster of stinging cells. And their length can vary greatly, although in fact they are not so large. When stretching, the tentacles reach a length of up to half a meter. Near the top they have a sharp bend.

Habitat conditions

Jellyfish usually live in bays and bays with well-heated water and overgrown with algae.

On coastal territories of Primorsky Krai, when sea water warms up to about +23 ... + 25 degrees, these insidious sea animals begin to become more active.

Mainly jellyfish are kept in thickets of sea grass (in zoster). They live in shallow depths, and during the spawning season they come so close to the shores that at times people can not enter the water at all.

Symptoms of bite

The bite of the jellyfish is not fatal, but after it a very unpleasant burning sensation appears, as if a hot iron was touched to the skin. After 10-15 minutes, the place of the burn is covered with a rash and blisters, there is an unexpected weakness. There comes a time of general poisoning.

The most terrible consequence is a drop in muscle tone. Then there is a strong pain in the lower back and limbs, temporary deafness and blindness, there is a confusion of consciousness. The latter is sometimes accompanied by hallucinations, delirium, palpitations and motor excitement.

A lot of unpleasant sensations bring a jellyfish-cross. The contact with the tentacles of the crosspiece is similar to the nettle burn. After a few minutes, redness appears on the contact site, a burning sensation arises and itching appears. These symptoms are most often caused by the poisoning of jellyfish.

In addition, there may be other consequences:

• Cramped breathing;
• nausea;
• Dry non-stop coughing;
• thirst;
• Numbness of feet and hands;
• Nervous excitement or depression;
• Loose stools;
• In the most difficult cases - paralysis.

All these troubles do not threaten death, but they bring a great discomfort.

What should I do if I am bitten by a jellyfish?

Although the jellyfish sting for life is not dangerous, but it's still desirable to contact a doctor.

What should I do if I bite a jellyfish? This question is quite urgent, especially for all holidaymakers in the coastal zones of the seas.

If the jellyfish has touched you, you should first leave the water and rinse the place of exposure with warm water, then for about three days you should observe peace and bed rest, constantly consuming a lot of liquid. In the process of first aid, the following actions should be performed:

• Immediately go ashore;
• Remove from the surface of the body of the remains of the tentacles of the crosspiece (to quickly remove the selected toxic substance can be carried on the surface of the skin with the blunt side of the knife or any plastic object);
• Rinse thoroughly with clean fresh water;
• Apply a cold object to the body (for example, an ice pack);
• To be in the shade (lie);
• Drink strong tea or coffee (if any);
• Take a tablet of suprastin or tavegil;
• Go to the doctors.

Abundant drink (juices, mineral or ordinary water) reduces the concentration of poison in the body and promotes rapid elimination of toxins.

What should not you do when you bite the crosspiece?

It must always be remembered that you can not touch the burn with your bare hands. Use either a rag or gloves.

The jellyfish is insidious, because its bite can spoil the whole vacation. Therefore, you should remember what you need to do for a faster recovery and what not to do. Especially contraindicated take painkillers and alcoholic beverages, aggravating the course of the disease.

In conclusion, a few tips

• After a bite, you can not sit in the sun, and it is also contraindicated to rub the place of the burn.
• It is important to listen to your body, especially those who have problems with pressure and heart.
• Repeated similar meetings with a jellyfish-cross are very dangerous, as the human body does not develop immunity to its poison, but on the contrary, it becomes even more sensitive.
• The most dangerous thing is if the cross-arms attack in packs. In this case, the poisoning is so great that even death can come, instantaneous.
• Although very small cross-pieces, and their invasions are insidious and unpredictable. Therefore, it is better not to collide with them. If there is at least one gonionema near, you should immediately get out of the water, as these mummers rarely swim alone.
• We must always stay away from the thickets of algae, due to the fact that the crucifers live in them.

To rest was successful and enjoyable, it is best to avoid encountering this insidious being.