Reefing is by far thee most enjoyable hobby I have. But like an innocent butter knife, and with just one slip, it can cause severe damage. I was informed just a few minutes ago that a dear friend of mine who knows an awful lot about reefing and the proper precautions to take, accidentally transmitted toxins from the palys he was fragging, into the mucus membrane via his eye. It was a simple mistake that he has paid dearly for.
He endured severe pain, a severe burning sensation and his local doctor sent him to the University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor Michigan. When your primary care physician sends you to Ann Arbor, it's usually very serious or something they have never seen before. This is exactly what several specialist informed him upon arrival. As a result, his eye bulged and was swollen shut and the other eye was slowly feeling the effects from the exposure from the other eye.
I will ask him to stop by and post the entire story in his own words including pictures in hopes that it will prevent the same thing from happening to someone else. It was indeed toxicity exposure, but I doubt that it was Palytoxins as this is thee most potent toxins known to man. Nevertheless, please, be safe everyone and take the proper precautions. Wash your hands after handling polyps and do not handle them if you have open cuts, bleeding cuticles etc. Wear gloves and eye protection and never touch your face when handling them. Sure, someone is going to say they have handled polyps a million times with no protection and no issues, but unless you know for a fact which polyps do and don't posses these toxins, don't become the ginny pig who finds out the hard way.
I want you to see and hear his story and please share it with everyone.
Thanks for reading.
Mucho Reef
He endured severe pain, a severe burning sensation and his local doctor sent him to the University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor Michigan. When your primary care physician sends you to Ann Arbor, it's usually very serious or something they have never seen before. This is exactly what several specialist informed him upon arrival. As a result, his eye bulged and was swollen shut and the other eye was slowly feeling the effects from the exposure from the other eye.
I will ask him to stop by and post the entire story in his own words including pictures in hopes that it will prevent the same thing from happening to someone else. It was indeed toxicity exposure, but I doubt that it was Palytoxins as this is thee most potent toxins known to man. Nevertheless, please, be safe everyone and take the proper precautions. Wash your hands after handling polyps and do not handle them if you have open cuts, bleeding cuticles etc. Wear gloves and eye protection and never touch your face when handling them. Sure, someone is going to say they have handled polyps a million times with no protection and no issues, but unless you know for a fact which polyps do and don't posses these toxins, don't become the ginny pig who finds out the hard way.
I want you to see and hear his story and please share it with everyone.
Thanks for reading.
Mucho Reef
