Jellyfish and vinegar versus coke

[ianw2]

About the tooth in the Coke…I’d find another dentist.
Check here:
http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/tooth.asp

 

[ThatsSomeBadHatHarry]

About the tooth in the Coke…I’d find another dentist.
Check here:
http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/tooth.asp

It doesn't sound like shakey is following a rumor. Sounds like it was actually seen and done.

The validity of that snopes article should be assessed.

".055 percent level of phosphoric acid was far below the 1.09 percent acid content of an orange"
This is phosphoric acid versus citric acid, not level of phosphoric acid in one versus the other. phosphoric acid is thought to replace calcium in bones leaving them weak. Citric acid does not do this.

 

[String]

Vingear (something acidic) is ok for some jellyfish stings but there are certain species where it will make it worse.

Fresh water is a bad idea.

 

[Tienuts]

Funny this thread popped up - I just got stung yesterday on my face. I would have stuck my face in the spinning boat prop if I thought it would have helped.

 

[gangrel441]

Mythbusters also dispute the idea of Coke disolving a tooth, and have shown it on TV. However, they did prove (on questionable terms) that vodka is as effective at killing a jellyfish sting as vinegar. Might be a bit pricier, but if you are at a resort, you probably walk right past the bar on the way back to your room after a day of diving.

 

[seadoggirl]

We see this alot in the Gulf of Mexico. I've been using plain old sand since I was a kid. Just rub the sting with sand. It works. Also used vinger, meat tenderizer, etc. Not into having folks pee on me. I'm an old fashioned girl that way.

 

[Puffer Fish]

Interesting question. I could not find a definitive answer.

A January 2006 Alert Diver magazine article points out that stings from different species respond to different treatments. Vinegar or rubbing alcohol was suggested, depending on local knowledge.

In this article: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=96
DAN also suggests ammonia or baking soda (which are alkaline, not acidic), or even meat tenderizer. It cautions against fresh water whose reduced salinity can trigger stinging cells still on the skin. Salt water flushing is OK.

Then there are commercial treatments, like Sting Stop, but they are more for symptom relief than neutralization.

If none of the above were available, Coke (phosphoric acid) or lemon (citric acid), both with pH similar to vinegar (acetic acid), seem worth a try. Nice creative thinking, h90.

Urine can be mildly acidic, but it can also be mildly alkaline, depending on such things as how recently you’ve eaten. Its salinity can also be similar to fresh water. It would be my last choice, even without considering social issues.

I have used ammonia on stings with great effectiveness... even seen it reduce swelling, only to have it come back hours latter. Do not know it it works on all types or I was just lucky.

 

[String]

Rubbing sand is a good way to get the stinging cells/tentacles still stuck on the skin off due to its abrasive properties. Best used in association with vinegar after that though.

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

About the tooth in the Coke…I’d find another dentist.
Check here:
http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/tooth.asp

I don't have first-hand knowledge of this, only what my dentist tells me. Of course, he has an agenda...to scare his patients from using Cola. I'll ask him next time I see him whether his story is real or a folklore crock he foisted on me.

I have measured the pH of Coke and it is quite low, so its effect as an inorganic acid is unquestioned. Whether it helps jellyfish stings, I have no clue.

As for Snopes, it is another Internet site which may or may not be reliable 100%; I watch Mythbusters and enjoy the show, but didn't see the tooth experiment.

 

[h90]

I got that idea, because noone ever spoke about that on the boats and one time it may happen and noone will have a clue.
As I stay in Thailand vinegar is not very common, but every time on boat I saw some lemons (for the food) and of course coke.

Also I guess that most divers prefer I put some coke over their face (if it is in the face) than pie on their face (maybe a minority with strange sexuall preferences may prefer the pie). I personaly would prefer the coke.

Once 1 side of my diving mask always got cloudy and there was no washing things on the boat. I put in coke for 30 seconds and than washed it and the problem was fixed.
Got also told that coke works for blocked toilets, removing color and rust. My chem. univ. Prof. told that coke can be used for may purposes, just you shouldn't drink it

Interesting question. I could not find a definitive answer.

A January 2006 Alert Diver magazine article points out that stings from different species respond to different treatments. Vinegar or rubbing alcohol was suggested, depending on local knowledge.

In this article: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=96
DAN also suggests ammonia or baking soda (which are alkaline, not acidic), or even meat tenderizer. It cautions against fresh water whose reduced salinity can trigger stinging cells still on the skin. Salt water flushing is OK.

Then there are commercial treatments, like Sting Stop, but they are more for symptom relief than neutralization.

If none of the above were available, Coke (phosphoric acid) or lemon (citric acid), both with pH similar to vinegar (acetic acid), seem worth a try. Nice creative thinking, h90.

Urine can be mildly acidic, but it can also be mildly alkaline, depending on such things as how recently you’ve eaten. Its salinity can also be similar to fresh water. It would be my last choice, even without considering social issues.