What common instinctive action almost guarantees an increased venom load after Physalia contact?
Answer
Rubbing the area or brushing off tentacles before rinsing
A frequent and costly error made by victims in panic situations is attempting physical removal of tentacles before neutralizing the threat. Actions such as rubbing the site, brushing debris off with sand, or wiping with a towel almost guarantee that any remaining, still-loaded stinging cells will rupture upon contact. This physical disturbance drastically increases the number of rupturing cells, leading to a significantly higher dose of venom being released into the tissue and escalating the victim's pain and distress level.
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