These sea ladies can quickly darken your days at the beach. So before you go, here are some tips.
1. check the sightings map
Each summer, jellyfish are attracted to our beaches due to the temperatures more than summer of the Mediterranean coasts. We understand them, since we also like to bask in the sea in the middle of summer!
But since bathers and jellyfish do not always mix well, Site www.meduse.acri.fr had the excellent idea of making available to all a map of jellyfish. This site is collaborative and based on observations made by swimmers.
Before moving to your favorite beach, so check if jellyfish have been seen these last hours on this one, here :
2. recognize a jellyfish sting
Information collected on the site www.snsm.org.
First clue, the type of pain felt: contact with a tentacle causes the feeling of an electric shock. This is then accompanied by severe itching and a burning sensation.
Second clue, the lesion: generally red, extending over 3 or 4 cm, it reveals the trace of the tentacle on the skin as well as stinging filaments loaded with poisonous cells. This scar will disappear on its own after 2 to 4 weeks. It will be necessary during this period to avoid exposing it too much to the sun.
3. react in the event of a jellyfish sting
Information collected on the site www.snsm.org.
Good gestures
- Keep calm : While the pain of a sting can be painful, you still need to keep calm to be able to swim properly. Namely that, apart from an allergic reaction, a jellyfish sting is not dangerous.
- Go to the aid station : if your beach is supervised, go directly to the rescuers.
- Rinse thoroughly : with sea water, lukewarm if possible, without rubbing.
- Remove the filaments stingers stuck to the skin: for this, apply hot, fine sand to the wound then gently scratch with a stiff piece of cardboard (a postcard for example) or a bank card. You can also use tweezers if you have one.
- Rinse again in sea water.
- Disinfect the wound : on the beach if you can or on your way home, with an antiseptic and then apply an anti-inflammatory ointment.
- Finally, if you notice that the bitten area is swelling or that you are having trouble breathing, contact the nearest emergency services immediately.
- Then finally, notify the lifeguards first aid station or the authorities so that they alert the bathers present on the beach.
Things not to do:
- Rinse with fresh water: do not rinse the bite with fresh water. This will cause the remaining cells to burst, releasing the venom and the pain.
- Touch the wound: avoid all contact, do not touch it, do not scratch yourself, do not try to suck it to suck out the venom and do not try to incise it either.
- Urinating on the wound: it is useless and it may even cause infections.
- Disinfect with alcohol: do not apply alcohol to the wound … it must be too stinging too!
- Applying a tourniquet: bad idea, it won't help you much.
Finally, be particularly vigilant with dead jellyfish washed up on the beach, whose stinging cells continue to sting. Do not let your children play with it.
The SNSM
This good advice is given by the SNSM, otherwise known as the Rescuers at Sea. To find all the information concerning jellyfish, we strongly invite you to visit their website by clicking here:
