A better way to treat box jellyfish stings

Angel Yanagihara, a Hawaii researcher who studies the toxicology of box jellyfish, wanted to set the record straight about useful treatments for a sting. In her article, published in the journal Toxins, she dispensed with some home remedies such as seawater, ice and scraping tentacles off.

Lots of websites dismiss the old-wive’s tale of using urine on the sting, though this study doesn’t mention it. Instead, it suggests vinegar and heat — either a heating pad or hot water.

Something else to tuck into the beach bag, next to the sun block. How about vinegar for those French fries?

That Christmas scent in Honolulu Hale

Is there such a thing as too much Christmas spirit? That may be the case with a City Council bid to amend the Fire Code to allow freshly cut yuletide trees in Honolulu Hale — over the Fire Department’s objections.

Councilman Ikaika Anderson, who introduced the bill, said last week: “I don’t think we can be afraid of what might happen and use that as a reason to dampen the Christmas spirit.” But firefighters pointed out that the hale does not have an automatic fire sprinkler system in the event that one of the glittering trees caught fire.

If that conifer scent is a must, would a few freshly cut trees and wreaths, strategically placed outside of the entrance, do the trick?