I've just got back from Wanda this afternoon and there where Thousands of blue bottles on the beach. I have been out for a couple of hour session and have a fair amount of stings on my feet and calves. Hot water is the go for relieving the sting. Had a shower as hot as I could stand and the pain gone has from my calves and the feet tingle just a little

Twas the same in the north Ian, Longy was all bluebottles with a bit of sea in between!!

I think the lifgaurds at Nobby's in Newcastle have done some testing a while back and about 40deg is the best temp for both the patient and stings

i heard WA bluebottles are weak sh1 t compared to east coast ones KC

Yep hot water is the go .Forget anything else that grandma or whoever said .last summer i copped one around the neck and started choking .The lifeguards at dicko shoved me in the hot (and I mean frikkein hot ) shower for 10 mins and i was back out there.(thanks guys)I couldn't believe the result.
Basically i jumped in and had a bit of cold on and they made me turn the cold all the way off .

A big thanks to Conrad local hanglider/paraglider ,kitesurfer who did alot of research on this and self inflicted stinging

PS Fob
I disagree India ocean blue bottles are way nastier than paciific blue bottles in my opiinion. One of my fiends called them claytons blue bottles cause he sailed for an hour and only got stung once and there where thousands out in the water and on the beach. He did complained of a sore groin though today

We use ice packs for blue bottles sting. Wash off/pick whatever is stuck on the skin with your fingers (they cant sting your fingers). Keep ice on for no more than 15-20min max at a time. Monitor breathing as some people react more vigorously than others. We normally only use hot water for spine stings.

Dang- they are back in Brissy too - bluebottles and blubbers :(

The pads of your fingers are thick-skinned and only a harmless prickling may be felt. You only pick them off when you are out of the water. Try washing the remaining tentacles off with seawater first.

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Originally posted by kitebored

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Originally posted by padi

(they cant sting your fingers

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I've been stung on the fingers before.. its not as bad but the big ones can still get you.. especially if they wrap around when your floating around trying to get them off..

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You can pick the tentacles off with your fingertips and not feel a thing.......until you go to do the saltwater sinus purge and drag the little blighters over the nostrils....ow..ow..ow!!

A few of us got stung up north a few years ago. Used Coke. The acid in this tasty beverage didnt work as good as hot water but the bubbles felt soothing

Ive been stung by a lot of those bloody little irukandji in North Queensland...stingers are sposed to be very painful, all i did was endure it...and vinegar is used to neutralize the posion. Chopper reed says Harden the F*ck up australia!