It’s that time of year again in Bermuda, jellyfish season. Our island plays host to a veritable armada of these coelenterates. Among the most common jellies in Bermuda are the By-the-Wind Sailor, the Moon Jelly, the Upside-Down Jellyfish, and of course the Portuguese Man-o’ War. Although the Moon Jelly, Bermuda’s most common jellyfish, is also it’s least stinging, the other three can sting swimmers and divers who are caught unaware.
The Upside-Down Jellyfish is a primarily sedentary creature and can be found in Harrington Sound. Though they are capable of movement, these jellyfish primarily lodge themselves on the sandy bottom of calmer waters soaking up sunlight. They resemble cauliflower and often send small amounts of stinging particles into the surrounding water to warn potential predators to stay away. Should you begin to itch while swimming in the sound, beware! Itching is a warning sign that you may be about to stumble upon an Upside-Down Jellyfish.
The By-the-Wind Sailor or Velella, is the smallest of the jellyfish discussed in this article measuring in at an average size of only 4 cm. This species of jelly is known for its blue-purple sail-like appendage, which enables it to travel along the surface of the ocean with ease. Unfortunately, this same appendage that helps the Velella travel can prove disastrous during storms. When high winds catch hold of this jellyfish, many end up high and dry on our beaches. Some people might mistake the Vellella for a juvenile Portuguese-Man-O-War.
The Portuguese Man-o’ War is arguably the most notorious of Bermuda’s jellyfish. This jellyfish has a blue-purple air filled bladder that enables it to float on the surface of the water. The Man-o’ War is renowned for its stinging tentacles that can reach up to 50 m in calm seas. Stay away from this jellyfish. Do not even touch one that has washed up on the beach. The Man-o’ War generally only retracts its tentacles when it has caught prey, so swimmers and divers must be wary.
Should you or yours have the misfortune of being stung by one of Bermuda’s jellyfish, take the following steps.
Call for medical help immediately.
Cover the afflicted area with vinegar if possible. If vinegar is not available rinse the area with seawater. DO NOT rinse the area with fresh water! Vinegar and salt water inhibit the nematocysts from releasing further toxins into the bloodstream, fresh water has no such effect. Applying ice or hot water to the area will also allow the nematocysts to continue releasing toxins, so do not apply ice or heat.
If medical help is not readily available, one may attempt to remove the tentacles and nematocysts after soaking the area in vinegar for 10 minutes.
Wear gloves and use tweezers, if available, to remove tentacles from the skin.
After any tentacles have been removed apply shaving cream to the wound and shave the area of nematocysts with a razor or credit card.
After shaving the area reapply shaving cream to the area to halt the nematocysts’ release of toxins.
Remain as still as possible until help arrives.
Take one to two capsules of Tylenol every four hours for pain one to two Ibuprofens every eight hours for pain.
Enjoy our beautiful beaches and waters but do keep an eye open for jellyfish.
Sterrer, Wolfgang. Bermuda’s Marine Life. 1. Flatts FL BX, Bermuda: Beruda Zoological Society, 1992
Stoppler, Melissa. “Jellyfish Stings Treatment.” WebMD. 29 Apr 2008. eMedicineHealth. 9 Jun 2008 http://firstaid.webmd.com/jellyfish_stings_treatment_firstaid.htm |
