Box Jellyfish Safety Reinforced on Samui
Thailand may not have got everything perfect in its fight against box jellyfish, but it has got a lot right and been nothing short of proactive and persistent. A far cry from a number of its neighbours.
Box jellyfish stings still occur in Thailand as do the occasional fatalities. No surprise here with so many beaches being their natural habitat. However, it could be much worse.
In 2015, for example, popular Koh Samui was in a world of pain with a series of widely-publicised box jellyfish deaths threatening the island's rich tourism industry.
Instead of burying their heads in the sand as others have, the Thais took the initiative and created a prevention and treatment program involving experts, government officials, hospitals and locals. It worked. And it still works.
There are now many examples on this blog of how the Thais have achieved such impressive results. There are also some examples of what they have got wrong, though they are far outweighed by the successes.
Thailand is finally welcoming back large numbers of tourists after the pandemic hiatus and have again taken positive steps to be prepared for the worse.
As reported in the Thai-language Khaosod Online, training sessions on box jellyfish safety and awareness have recently been undertaken by local officials and experts on Koh Samui.
Coupled with an upgrade to signage and vinegar stations, these sessions target beachfront workers ensuring that in the case of an emergency they can be effective first responders and help victims survive a box jellyfish sting.
It is still incumbent on those heading into the sea to take the necessary precautions and heed the warnings. The risk remains. Though when a sting does occur it is reassuring to know that there will be someone close at hand with the training and the knowledge to rapidly provide the necessary life-saving treatment.
Read Khaosod Online Article (in Thai):
Photos credited to Khaosod Online 2022
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