3: Principles of first-aid treatment for chirodropid envenomation

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Pour vinegar over the stung area and any adherent tentacles for a minimum of 30 seconds
• AFTER vinegar application, apply compression bandages directly over major stings
• If vinegar is unavailable, rescuers should pull tentacles off with their fingers (only a faint, harmless prickling will be felt) before applying compression bandages
• If available, use CSL Chironex fleckeri antivenom for all serious cases (three ampoules, each containing 20 000 units, may be given intramuscularly, above the bandages)
• Cold packs and Entonox may be used to ease skin pain