The Jellyfish Are Back

Sun, sand, and ... thousands of tiny barbed stingers that release venom directly into your skin? 

And so it goes in Madison, Guilford, and other shoreline towns this time of year. The jellyfish have grown, and now they're pink and bright red. Swimmers--and even people walking on the beach--can get zapped by the tentacles that can reach up to 30 feet or more away from the gelatinous body of the jellyfish. Stepping onto or swimming into the tentacles of a jellyfish can be an abrupt halt to summer fun on the beach. 

The Lion's Mane jellyfish is one of the most common in these waters this time of year, according to the CT DEEP. "A tangle of reddish orange to tawny brown ruffled oral arms flow from the underside of the umbrella (the subumbrella) surrounding the mouth, and resemble a lion's mane. Pale white tentacles stream from the subumbrella in eight U-shaped groups. Its transparent bell, shaded in tones of pale pink and purple, ends in a scalloped rim. They have stinging cells (nematocysts) that are mildly toxic. Cyanea are generally considered moderate stingers ... pain is relatively mild and often described as burning rather than stinging."

Consider carrying a portable first aid kit with a bottle of white vinegar to rinse the area that has been stung, an oral antihistamine, hydrocortisone cream, and a topical antibiotic cream. 

Here are some tips to deal with the stinging: 

1. Get the person out of the water
2. Call 911 if the person is showing signs of an allergic reaction or if the sting covers more than half of an arm or half of a leg. 
2. Rinse the area with vinegar (not fresh water)
3. Continue to clean the area with vinegar, shaving cream, soap lather, or a paste of sand and seawater. The key is to remove the stingers from the tentacles, which will continue to sting as long as they are embedded in the skin. Sometimes a razor or credit card can be used to scrape the stingers out. Venom also can be removed with a mixture of baking soda and water. 
4. Apply a hydrocortisone cream or take an oral antihistamine if there is mild stinging or swelling. If the reaction appears to be more than mild, call 911. 
5. Ice packs can be used if the pain continues. Clear any wounds three times a day and apply antibiotic ointment as well. 

Consult these sources for additional information: WebMD, Mayo Clinic, WikiHow,