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| Man-o-war we caught |
I love to go snorkeling. Sure, I swallow a bit of
saltwater now and then. And the tossing sea sometimes make me feel like I’m
gonna toss my breakfast. But it’s worth it. When I strap on my mask and dip my
head underwater, I feel like I’m entering a new world. A peaceful silence
drifts over me. Purple sea fans sway beneath my body. I watch blue and gold
butterfly fish school by in swirling clouds.
But among the splendor, danger also lurks, sometimes
within the most lovely of creatures. Sea urchins, with their spectacular
spines, are an obvious risk. One touch, and you’ll feel like you’ve tangled
with a wasp. Sea anemones inject passing fish with a paralyzing neurotoxin—then
eat them. Jellyfish deliver poison-filled darts with venom ranging from
irritating to deadly.
My son (who refuses to be named due to extenuating—and
disgusting—circumstances) suffered a man-o-war sting this week while we
vacationed in Mexico. The ethereal deep blue creature stung his hand while he
swam. Not exactly the highlight of his trip.
Coincidentally, I’d read up on jellyfish stings last
week. Vinegar or meat tenderizer breaks down the protein-based venom. But all
we had at the beach were more, ah, natural
remedies. You know, the kind you usually find near a urinal. My son was in enough
pain that he finally accepted his uncle’s generous offering, knowing full well
that he’d be teased for the rest of his life. His pain disappeared almost
immediately.
Back at the hotel, I researched man-o-war venom.
Turns out the pain fades after about an hour. So my son’s brush with poor
hygiene might not have been exactly necessary. I also learned that man-o-wars
are not jellyfish. They’re siphonophores, a whole colony of specialized
individuals. In contrast to jellyfish, their venom actually intensifies with
vinegar use. So, really, my son should be grateful we didn’t have any.
What situations have you experienced that seemed
safe or beautiful, but ended up otherwise? What home remedies work for you?
What have yielded strange or unexpected results?
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