Jellyfish-like creature with powerful sting spotted on MS beaches. How to treat if stung

Nothing ruins a beach day faster than a sting from a floating creature with venomous tentacles.

They’re called Portuguese Man o’ War and if you spot one on the beaches of Mississippi, stay far away.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , Man o’ War have tentacles with “coiled, barbed tubes that deliver venom capable of paralyzing and killing small fish and crustaceans.”

Their sting is also highly painful to humans. If stung, symptoms include :

• A sharp, stinging, or burning pain

• Red, string-like lash marks that may blister

• Swelling and redness around the affected area

• Other possible symptoms include nausea, headaches, muscle weakness, heart symptoms, or even difficulty breathing in severe cases

So, what should you do (and not do) if stung by one? Here’s what to know:

Here’s what to do if you’re stung by a Man o’ War

No doubt, it’ll hurt, but stay calm and follow these instructions to relieve the pain:

Remove tentacles

“Carefully remove any remaining tentacles that might still be on the skin, but use a towel or something so that you don’t get stung when removing them,” said Dr. Joe Richardson , a Tybee Beach marine scientist.

Soak the area

“Rinse with seawater or hot water (at a temperature you can comfortably tolerate) for about 20 minutes to help deactivate the remaining toxins,” according to Surfer Today .

Heat & pain relievers

Apply a hot towel to help with mild pain relief. If you still have pain after this step, it is recommended to take over the counter pain medication. However, if you have trouble breathing or chest pain, seek medical help immediately.

Add some cream

“Apply 0.5% to 1% hydrocortisone cream or ointment twice a day to the affected skin,” experts at the Mayo Clinic said .

Here’s what not to do if you’re stung

According to Surfer Today , many experts say to rinse the area with vinegar, but doing so may actually make the pain worse.

In addition, Mayo Clinic urges against the following:

• Scraping out stingers

• Rinsing with human urine

• Rinsing with cold, fresh water

• Applying meat tenderizer

• Applying alcohol, ethanol or ammonia

• Rubbing with a towel

• Applying pressure bandages

Have more questions? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com

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