SWIMMING WITH JELLYFISH

Jellyfish . . . the thought in every swimmer's mind as they prepare for the challenge of open water sea swimming.

This infamous invertebrate that has been on earth for at least 500 million years, long before humans and even before the dinosaurs! However, the rising incidence of jellyfish blooms poses a threat to the biodiversity of the ocean, fishing and tourism industries and of course, to the sport so close to our hearts.

The unfortunate situation at the moment is that we cannot avoid nor predict the occurrence of these blooms. Hardly a few years ago, this issue was more of a rare occurrence which is not the case presently, due to climate change, pollution, overfishing and habitat loss.

What we can do, however, w.r.t sea based sporting events is to manage and mitigate the risk to our participants and improve our medical and first-aid resources so that we can continue to provide a platform for OWS enthusiasts.

STEP I

DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION TO INCREASE AWARENESS

There are over 200 species of jellyfish in the world - however, the moon jellyfish and sea nettles are the predominant species in the waters off the coast of Goa. These species are mildly venomous and the sting is usually mild with most people developing a slight reaction to it.

On the rare occasion that the presence of dangerously venomous jellyfish is reported, the organizers will take necessary action to ensure the safety of all concerned, including cancellation of the event if needed.

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STEP II

WEATHER AND TIDE PATTERNS

The event date has been scheduled during the cooler months of the year at a neap tide (between first and third quarter moon) as well as during low tide on event day. These patterns have been found to reduce the numbers of jellyfish in the water at the given time.

STEP III

ADVISORY ON SWIMWEAR AND SKIN PROTECTION

Swimwear that covers most of the exposed areas of the body i.e., full sleeve rash guards as well as ankle length pants provides increased protection from stings.

Liberal use of coconut oil on areas that cannot be covered with clothing significantly reduces the chances of jellyfish tentacles attaching to the skin.

STEP IV

DEDICATED FIRST AID SECTION

Separate medical set-up headed by an experienced dermatologist to manage swimmers with stings.

Adequate stock of vinegar (in spray bottles to cover a larger surface area) - vinegar being an acid neutralizes the nematocysts (sting cells) and prevents them from releasing more venom. Vinegar bottles will be available on all boats along the race course as well.

Availability of hot water to immerse the affected area.

Ambulance on stand-by for major injuries with pre-briefed emergency medical staff at partner hospital.