Mrs Pig where will you be swimming in the sea???? Is this UK sea?? I stepped into a sea urchin in the Red Sea and got stung by jelly fish in the Caribbean, but never anything nasty over here???
Wear those plastic sandal things to avoid weaver fish - jellyfish aren't too bad over here in the UK but deadly elsewhere. I would wear swimming goggles, keep your eyes open and watch for warnings on the beach.
But most of all don't worry about it - they won't kill you and chances of a sting are quite remote.
Article in the Sunday Telegraph today about sea-borne meances and you're probably more likely to get food poisoning or probs with sewage in the UK. Stick to Blue Flags and you should be fine.
The only thing I've ever really come into contact with is jellyfish. No they won't move out of your way as they go with the current, they haven't really got eyes and brains and stuff like fish (I'm so scientific, me...)
However, I honestly don't think jelly stings are THAT bad. It's really like a nettle sting (or like walking through a bunch of nettles, depending on the amount of jellies). So - just get on with it, really. Accept that they MAY be there (but equally may not), swim round them if you happen to see them (but you probably won't) and just know that they can't harm you unless you have a reaction to the sting.
Be aware that warm weather and still, shallow water is where you'll encounter them most. As for what to do - antihistamines I guess? (I don't know for definite but it would make sense)
I've never come across anything else swimming in UK sea. Fish are undoubtably there but will be more frightened of you and will keep out of your way.
Have fun and enjoy the lovely sea! Will you swim in a wetsuit or not? If not, just be aware of the signs of hypothermia just in case. :-)
Seriously thank you -that's the sort of advice I needed. I'm quite happy to run through nettles so will just forget the whole jellyfish issue. I had had visions of agonising stings etc so this will be fine.
Of course if I die I shall ask my estate to sue ;-)
Sorry I've just seen you said no wetsuit. Good for you but take it steady, don't push it if you feel cold - acclimatisation can take a while even if you think "It can't be that cold, it's July" (or whatever). It doesn't take much for hypothermia to occur, so learn the signs and be honest with yourself. It shouldn't take too many swims before your body adapts. :-)
If you don't want to wear a wetsuit, you can buy a "reef suit" - this is worn by scuba divers in warm water where a wetsuit isn't needed and it has no bouyancy- it is a lycra type material full body cover and is worn to give protection against jellyfish and coral abrasion.
Mild hypothermia - ie core body temp dropped to 35.5*C at the most - shivering which you can't control, loss of blood circulation (and probably most feeling) to hands/feet, inability to perform complex motor functions.
Those might not sound too bad (cold hands and feet, a bit of shivering, unable to do your shoelaces up) but the reason it's important to recognise it is that then you can prevent yourself from going into further stages of hypothermia, which are more serious and harder to spot - because one of the signs of them is the loss of ability to reason and to communicate properly!
Sorry - I mean "core temperature dropped at 35.5*C at the lowest". ie could be anywhere between normal and 35.5*C. What do you mean you don't carry a rectal thermometer in your swim bag?! (just kidding)
So jellyfish stings......... urinate on them and swim with rectal thermometer. Do I move the mirror around whilst swimming to check on my blue lips and the thermometer or have one for each area?
You can check the colour of your skin by looking in the reflection of the shiny bit at the end of the thermometer every time you check it ;-)
Seriously though it is only about being aware and sensible - not scared or nervous. It's only like you'd need to be aware about...dunno...weather/hypothermia if you were planning on going on long hill walks in somewhere cold. It's just being prepared and armind yourself with knowledge. That way - sod's law - you'll probably never need it anyway!
If I remember correctly the shiny bit will be blue if it's labelled correctly :-D
I'm not put off any more than I was before I started this thread. In fact the jelly fish issue was the big one and your comments have helped hugely (nettles = no problem)
Comments
There was a big one in there tonight.
Just wait until Dr Nic sees this thread!
nothing nasty over here..?!
Lots of jellies, weaver fish....
I know there's plenty of nasty things - how do I avoid them
It's really putting me off
But most of all don't worry about it - they won't kill you and chances of a sting are quite remote.
Article in the Sunday Telegraph today about sea-borne meances and you're probably more likely to get food poisoning or probs with sewage in the UK. Stick to Blue Flags and you should be fine.
Raspberry are especially tasty.
I think you just have to not think about what might be out there (whether natural or man-made).
Perhaps Hannibal Lector's mask might see off the jellyfish but there are still the giant squid waiting to carry you off to the depths ....
The only thing I've ever really come into contact with is jellyfish. No they won't move out of your way as they go with the current, they haven't really got eyes and brains and stuff like fish (I'm so scientific, me...)
However, I honestly don't think jelly stings are THAT bad. It's really like a nettle sting (or like walking through a bunch of nettles, depending on the amount of jellies). So - just get on with it, really. Accept that they MAY be there (but equally may not), swim round them if you happen to see them (but you probably won't) and just know that they can't harm you unless you have a reaction to the sting.
Be aware that warm weather and still, shallow water is where you'll encounter them most. As for what to do - antihistamines I guess? (I don't know for definite but it would make sense)
I've never come across anything else swimming in UK sea. Fish are undoubtably there but will be more frightened of you and will keep out of your way.
Have fun and enjoy the lovely sea! Will you swim in a wetsuit or not? If not, just be aware of the signs of hypothermia just in case. :-)
No wetsuit - just cossie and goggles.
Hypothermia - shivering? goosebumps and blue lips?
:-)
Seriously thank you -that's the sort of advice I needed. I'm quite happy to run through nettles so will just forget the whole jellyfish issue. I had had visions of agonising stings etc so this will be fine.
Of course if I die I shall ask my estate to sue ;-)
;o)
<<<<atchly, Mrs Pig, rumour has it that Dr Nic did say a few Rude Words as she was going through some jelly fish on the way to France once...>>>>
Jj ???? Why ???
Have they special ointment for stings on the face??
Is there anyway you can avoid this or is this pleasure?
Mrs P, happy to help :-)
Those might not sound too bad (cold hands and feet, a bit of shivering, unable to do your shoelaces up) but the reason it's important to recognise it is that then you can prevent yourself from going into further stages of hypothermia, which are more serious and harder to spot - because one of the signs of them is the loss of ability to reason and to communicate properly!
Seriously though it is only about being aware and sensible - not scared or nervous. It's only like you'd need to be aware about...dunno...weather/hypothermia if you were planning on going on long hill walks in somewhere cold. It's just being prepared and armind yourself with knowledge. That way - sod's law - you'll probably never need it anyway!
I'm not put off any more than I was before I started this thread. In fact the jelly fish issue was the big one and your comments have helped hugely (nettles = no problem)