You have probably heard of bug repellent but did you know there is such a thing as jellyfish repellent?
Israeli scientists have studied the clown fish and its ability to swim through the stinging tentacles of the sea anemone without being harmed to learn how to prevent humans from being harmed from the sting of jellyfish. Tamar Lotan a molecular scientist and her husband Amit Lotan a marine biologist-who had set up a laboratory near the Sea of Galilee-developed a cream that imitates the compounds produced of the clownfish which defend it from stings with great support from the Israeli government. A sting from a jellyfish is not limited to causing discomfort, it can also cause death depending on the situation (Haas, Danielle n.d) but now there may be a way to avoid it without avoiding the water jellyfish might be in.
This innovative cream works by combining to a variety of methods to avoid the jellyfish’s sting or to least trick them into not stinging. First the cream makes the skin attempts to make the skin so slippery that the tentacles can’t cling to it and if it does it tries to confuses the jellyfish by absorbing secretions from human skin that would inform the jellyfish that it is touching a person so it thinks it is touching a nonliving thing instead making it is less likely to attack. And if that doesn’t work and the jellyfish still tries to attack the cream can help stop the skin from absorbing the sting while also suppressing the cells within the tentacles themselves that cause the sting. (Dovey, Dana 2014)
The Israeli jellyfish repellent called SafeSea has been tested and found to be quite effective. An American testing of the product had 24 volunteers (I know that may not sound like a lot but who in their right mind wants to volunteer to risk being attacked by anything?) expose their arms to jellyfish tentacles and found that only a few felt discomfort while using the lotion on and only one arm showed signs of redness and swelling. Alexa Kimball MD who taught dermatology for Stanford University School of Medicine which conducted the study at of an advised that while using the lotion wasn’t 100% foolproof in terms of preventing stings it was pretty close and still considered it very effective means of protection from the harmful tentacles. (ISRAEL21c Staff, 2014)
There is something else you can cover yourself in that is 100% foolproof at preventing the sting of eternal death. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” Leviticus 17:11. God gave Israel this example during “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year…Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:5-13 God has provided the blood for our atonement through the Messiah so the sting of eternal death can safely pass over us.
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all…He was led as a lamb to the slaughter…” Isaiah 53:5-7 If we accept God’s offer of blood atonement as a covering for our lives even if stinging tentacle of death us encompasses us in this life it will not be able cling to us forever. The Jewish prophet Isaiah states, “Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.” Isaiah 26:19 And Paul, a Jewish teacher years states, “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’” 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
References:
Dovey, Dana 2014 “Safe Sea Jellyfish Sting Preventer, Sunblock Combo Promises Protection From Both Stings And UV Rays” Medical Daily received from http://www.medicaldaily.com/safe-sea-jellyfish-sting-preventer-sunblock-combo-promises-protection-both-stings-and-uv-305002
Haas, Danielle n.d “New Cream Protects Against Jellyfish Sting” ABC News received form http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=120017&page=1
ISRAEL21c Staff 2014 “New Israeli lotion keeps the jellyfish away” Israel21c received from https://www.israel21c.org/new-israeli-lotion-keeps-the-jellyfish-away/
Picture originally found here
