Beach danger series: Avoiding and treating jellyfish stings

May 18, 11:39 PMWorld Beach ExaminerBarbra Stuter

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Jelly at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Jellyfish share the number five spot on our beach dangers list along with sharks and stingrays.  Although dangerous sea creatures are the last on our list, make no mistake a sting from one of these babies can really ruin your day.  But I'll tell you a secret...the best way to prevent jellyfish stings is simply to avoid coming in contact with them.  Sounds easy right?  Not to be flip, there really are several steps you can take to prevent one-on-one interaction with these beautiful but dangerous creatures. 

It is also important for you to be able to identify the types of jellyfish you may come into contact with before hitting the water, as some might be very painful or even deadly.  A good guide for jellyfish identification is posted here.  Many organizations are also working on forecast models to predict jellyfish swarms and we should expect more from these models in the future.

Portuguese man-of-war

• If you are in a patrolled area, look for the purple flag which means dangerous sea life in the water.
• Know who you are swimming with.  Different types of jellyfish live in different areas and population can be affected by area currents and climate.
• Before you get in the water look for signs of jellyfish on the sand.  Scan the surface of the water looking for jellyfish floating on the surface.  One of the most painful jellyfish (the man-of-war) has a sail that sticks up out of the water about four inches, making it easy to spot.
• If you are in the water and encounter a jellyfish, look around to see if he brought his friends with him.  If so, exit the water as quickly as possible.  If there is just one, simply avoid it.  You can move a lot faster than a jelly.
• Even pieces of chopped up tentacles caused by rough water or feeding predators can sting as can dead jellyfish that have washed up on the beach.  Watch where you are walking!
• Barrier protection like wetsuits, rash guards or even t-shirts can protect you against stings.  Australian lifeguards have been known to wear panty hose on their arms and legs as protection.  There is also a highly recommended sunscreen called Safesea that protects by preventing the sting mechanism from firing.  http://www.buysafesea.com/

Moon Jelly

Treatment for stings

• Sounds obvious but get out of the water and away from the offending jellies
• Do not rub or scratch the stung area.  The more you do this, the more the nematocysts (stingers encapsulated and concentrated on the tentacles) will trigger and act as tiny little arrows firing more venom into your skin.
• To neutralize the jellyfish sting, flood the area with vinegar which is the best neutralizer.  Lifeguards in patrolled areas with jellyfish will have vinegar if you don’t have any with you.  Don’t rub it in, gently apply with a paper towel or pour over the area.  Should you urinate on jellyfish stings?  Sure, go ahead.  It won’t do anything to neutralize the stingers, but it might take your mind off the pain for a bit.
• Once the sting has been neutralized, remove any tentacles with tweezers or by shaving.  If you are at the beach without your grooming kit, use sand and a sea shell or stick to scrape off the nematocysts.
• Strong allergic reactions are possible, so monitor the victim for signs of anaphylactic shock.  Symptoms of this condition include chest tightness, severe respiratory distress and changes in levels of consciousness. If any of those symptoms appear, seek medical attention immediately.