Vodka solves a Diving Problem

[metaldector]

I haven't tried this but a recent e-mail to me, indicated that Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting. So instead of the meat tenderizer, or other nasty stuff, a cheap bottle of vodka should be in your Save a Dive Kit or in the medical kit. Cheers

 

[Saturation]

It maybe the high alcohol content, but its even cheaper and more utilitarian to use Windex with vinegar ... and its more politically correct.

 

[H2Andy]

well, the thing about the Vodka is that, you know, should no one be horribly maimed
by a jellyfish, we can celebrate an accident-free dive afterwards with the very medicine we would have treated the wound with.

the poetic justice and thematic symmetry are just too beautiful to pass up

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

Is the vodka to be administered topically, internally or both? And how does this affect diving for the rest of the day? Personally, I've had really good luck using Safe Sea (with SPF 15 rating as sunblock too). I wish that stuff had been available while I was growing up on the South Texas Gulf Coast - especially when the Portugese Man-o-war are thick.

 

[Saturation]

well, the thing about the Vodka is that, you know, should no one be horribly maimed
by a jellyfish, we can celebrate an accident-free dive afterwards with the very medicine we would have treated the wound with.

the poetic justice and thematic symmetry are just too beautiful to pass up

On that note, if the vodka didn't work, taking enough of it internally will anesthesize the diver enough that s/he won't care!

But seriously, alcohol in islands are often not cheap, unless one is diving in the mainland of a good sized city that happens to get jelly fish.

 

[beche de mer]

I haven't tried this but a recent e-mail to me, indicated that Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting. So instead of the meat tenderizer, or other nasty stuff, a cheap bottle of vodka should be in your Save a Dive Kit or in the medical kit. Cheers

I'd advise caution with this. For some time, topical application of alcohol was the recommended first aid for Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) stings. This is a particularly lethal jellyfish which lives off the coast of norther Australia, and can cause death in minutes.

Eventually a researcher actually observed, through a microscope, the effect of alcohol on the nematocysts (stinging cells) and found that it caused them to discharge. So for this particular jelly, alcohol was probably the worst thing. Vinegar (acetic acid) was found to neutralise the nematocysts amd is regarded as an effective remedy.

Not all jelly nematocysts react the same so I don't think there is universal first aid, but vinegar is generally a better option that alcohol for most.

 

[simbrooks]

But seriously, alcohol in islands are often not cheap, unless one is diving in the mainland of a good sized city that happens to get jelly fish.

That is what airports are for, to stock up on your save a dive/first aid kit supplies.

 

[Jeddah Aquanaut]

I haven't tried this but a recent e-mail to me, indicated that Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting. So instead of the meat tenderizer, or other nasty stuff, a cheap bottle of vodka should be in your Save a Dive Kit or in the medical kit. Cheers

This idea opens up many possiblities. Everywhere you go, there will be some local equivalent. Vodka, obviously for Russia and other CIS countries; Scotch for the North Sea; Tequila for the Carribbean, Wild Turkey or Jack Daniels for the U.S., the possibilities are endless. Maybe another PADI speciality?!

 

[MSilvia]

... and its more politically correct.

When did vodka become politically incorrect?

Also, maybe it's just me, but in my experience cheap alcohol is definately not hard to come by in the islands... at least not in the carribean.

I'd still go with vinegar for the jelly stings though.

 

[brssmnky]

I haven't tried this but a recent e-mail to me, indicated that Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting. So instead of the meat tenderizer, or other nasty stuff, a cheap bottle of vodka should be in your Save a Dive Kit or in the medical kit. Cheers

This is just one more piece of evidence that proves my life philosophy... Alcohol solves every problem! (Don't worry, I'm only half serious about that :devil_3: )