There is nothing that embodies the joy of summer more than a fun day at the beach! Nothing beats enjoying the waves as they come crashing unto the sand, swimming in the sea, and frolicking on the beach! However, an unexpected encounter with a jellyfish can bring the most fun day to a sudden and painful end.
These beautiful creatures have existed even before dinosaurs, and for millions of years have been inhabiting the ocean. They are gelatinous invertebrates that move with the currents of the seas; they can also be found on the shore as well as deep in the sea. While beautiful to watch, everyone should keep their distance from jellyfish. While not all species are dangerous, their stings have varying degrees of severity; from mild discomfort, to severe pain, to death in some cases. It is, thus, necessary to be cautious and avoid coming in contact with them.
Jellyfish tentacles have stinging cells called nematocytes, which contain microscopic harpoons filled with toxins that, when triggered, shoot out to penetrate the skin of its target and inject the toxins into them. That is how jellyfish immobilize or paralyze their prey before devouring them. While we are not prey for jellyfish and they do not attack humans, jellyfish tentacles can hurt humans. Most jellyfish stings happen when a human accidentally comes into contact with their tentacles, whether while swimming or accidentally stepping on a freshly washed-up jellyfish.
The deadliest jellyfish, chironex fleckeri, nicknamed the “sea wasp”, have caused human fatalities. The toxins they carry in their tentacles attack the heart, nervous system, as well as the skin cells of victims. Humans can go into heart failure and shock if they are stung, which can cause them to drown before they are able to get to shore. However, encounters with these deadly jellyfish are uncommon; most people are lucky enough to be stung by less dangerous jellyfish.
If you are stung by a jellyfish while swimming, calmly and quickly exit the water. Rinse the stung area with vinegar or seawater to neutralize the toxins. Do not use freshwater because it can trigger more toxin release from the tentacles. Use tweezers or another object to remove any tentacles, and do not rub the affected area as this too could lead to the release of more toxins. You can also soak the affected area in hot, not scalding, water for 20 to 45 minutes to reduce pain. For mild reactions you can simply take over the counter pain relief medication. However, if you feel that you are having an allergic reaction or difficulty breathing you should immediately seek medical attention.
It is important to heed any warnings that an area has jellyfish; if there are signs put up to warn swimmers and beachgoers of jellyfish, you should heed that warning. It is also important to check for such warnings if you are travelling to another country as they may have dangerous jellyfish that you do not know of. Especially in some tropical countries, follow the local advice, it is best to err on the side of caution than spend time in pain and lamenting your bad luck!
Resources
nationalgeographic.com
nhm.ac.uk
montereybayaquarium.org
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