StingBlade is a new scraping tool designed to treat that bane of some divers’ lives – jellyfish stings.
If stung on an exposed area of flesh, instinctively touching or rubbing it with your hands simply pushes the stingers that have already hooked into the skin further into the body, releasing and driving the toxins inside too, says the manufacturer.
The company is also dismissive of the timeworn ideas of applying vinegar or urine as emergency treatments. Instead it says its tool can be applied to targeted areas to neutralise the micro-barbs, removing them before they can be activated and preventing secondary stinging and pain.
As soon as possible afterwards the affected area can be immersed in hot water, or cold salt water if that is not available – though never cold fresh water, which will release more toxins, says StingBlade.
The product is the idea of Mark Dyer, who belongs to the family of blade-makers who came up with Wilkinson Sword’s Bonded Edge razors. It is made sustainably using reclaimed fishing-nets and is weighted for neutral buoyancy.
The basic green-coloured StingBlade Personal scraper costs £30 and can be carried by the user wherever it might be needed, while for £55 the red Super Blade Professional version is designed for “more detailed treatment” on the beach or at the dive-centre.
An interchangeable titanium blade mechanism allows for replacement of the blades to maintain their sharp precision. StingBlade is British-made and can be bought from the maker's website or Amazon.
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