Backpackers in Cairns the Stinger Season is here again and the Sharehouse backpacking team in Cairns have advice on how to not meet up with them!!
Backpackers love a joke, but make no mistake it is now box jellyfish season in Cairns and we need you to read this carefully as there will be a test at the end.
Box jellyfish have been responsible for more than 60 deaths in Australia and they are present in northern waters from October until May. There have been reports of box jellyfish as far south as Agnes Water, which is just north of Bundaberg.
Prevention is better than cure, so:
- observe warning signs;
- do not enter the water when beaches are closed due to marine stingers;
- at beaches where there are swimming enclosures, swim only within these nets;
- wear a stinger suit to minimise the risk of being stung while in the water.
First aid for marine stings
Don't rub the sting. Don't apply a pressure bandage.
Large box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri
- Death can happen very quickly, so act immediately!
- Call an ambulance.
- Flood the affected area with vinegar. Vinegar neutralises any undischarged stinging cells. If you don't use vinegar, more venom is injected after the initial sting.
- Keep the victim calm.
- Apply cold packs to the sting for local pain.
- Administer CPR if the victim stops breathing.
Cairns party people, we have done our public duty and have warned you of the danger and what to do in the event – now it’s time to really learn how to avoid a marine stinger in Cairns.
Backpackers staying at Cairns Central Sharehouse easily escape the heat and humidity of the coming months by just taking a stroll to the Cairns Esplanade and having a refreshing swim in the large saltwater lagoon. Backpackers in Cairns can safely swim in the stinger free Cairns Esplanade swimming pool, it is only a 10 minute walk from Cairns Central Sharehouse.
The Cairns Esplanade lagoon is a great meeting place that is hugely popular with the backpacker community, so it is perfect for catching up with all the latest backpacker news – which reminds me, if you do have any Cairns backpacking news you would like to share with the world please drop us an email, photos, conquests, funny stories if you want to tell, we want to publish.........
The Cairns foreshore has been transformed from a tidal, mudflat swamp into a world-class facility incorporating an outdoor amphitheatre, a large sandy swimming lagoon, grassy picnic areas, walking tracks, public barbeques, children's playground, shops and restaurants.
The Cairns lagoon precinct spans 4 hectares, and is capable of accommodating 1000 swimmers at a time. It is open for free public use between 6am and 10pm daily.
So here is the test and the Cairns Central Sharehouse team hope you were paying attention.
Where should a backpacker swim in Cairns?
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Answer A = In unprotected water waiting to meet a Marine Stinger |
Or Answer B = At the Cairns Lagoon |
Mental note:
French backpackers in Cairns are a lot more fun than Marine Stingers.
Please note, no marine stingers or frogs were injured during this article.
