Some Hazards of Tropical Waters

These hazards should be avoided at all costs. Unfortunately people sometimes have bad luck. Here's a "what to do if" page. My first advice is to seek the help from a medical doctor.

*This page is for a guideline only. In no way does this replace medical attention. Consider it like advice from a friend. Then use your common sense and seek the attention from a doctor.

*There is a walk in clinic right next door to the Cultimara grocery store in Kralendijk and the hospital is right across the street.

Box Jellies aka Sea Wasp and Portugese Man of War

Do not rinse with water or hot water. Use diluted ammonia or vinegar or lemon juice or gas or alchol. If you don't have immediate access to any of those try urinated on the sting. Allergy medicine sometimes relieves the itching.

Fire Coral

First aid for fire coral stings are essentially the same as for the jellies. Do not rinse with water or hot water instead use diluted ammonia or vinegar or lemon juice or gas or alchol. If you don't have immediate access to any of those try urinated on the sting. Allergy medicine sometimes relieves the itching.

Stone Fish

Rinse the affected area thoroughly in the hottest water you can take. Remove spines with tweezers and rinse the area again. Do not cover the area.

Scorpion Fish

Rinse the affected area thoroughly in the hottest water you can can take. Remove spines with tweezers and rinse the area again. Do not cover the area.

Lionfish

Rinse the affected area thoroughly in the hottest water you can can take. Remove spines with tweezers and rinse the area again. Do not cover the area.

Sunburn

Take tylenol and/or ibuprophen for pain. Cool the affected area with a cloth or gauze compress of burow solution found at the drugstore. Then apply aloe gel, either from a plant or found at the store. Repeat as needed.

Sea Urchin

Soak the affected area for 60-90 minutes in very hot water. Remove spines with tweezers. Eventually the spines will dissolve if you are unable to remove them all. Take tylenol and ibuprophen for pain and swelling. Use an antibiotic creme after each hot water soaking.

Heat Exhaustion

Use cool compresses or a cooler shower. Drink lots of liquids and eat lots of salt. A sports drink is ideal. If the person looses conciousness or is coplaining of being dizzy or confused seek medical help immediately.

Diarrhea

Drink lots of sports drinks like gatorade. Eat apples, bananas and probiotic yogurt. Don't take any medicine, this will only make the trots last longer. Wait it out, a bout of the craps usually lasts 24-48 hours.

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