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Page 76
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
July 19, 2013
GUARDING THE BEACH
What To Expect With Jellyfish
Sea nettles are native to these OCEAN CITY – Shark week will return to the Discovery Chan- waters meaning that stings are nel on Aug. 4 and while highly in- inevitable. One of the most freformational, is quite sensational- quent questions that I get as a ized and does a tremendous job beach lifeguard is, “When do the of frightening the public to the jellyfish come?” This is actually a point where shark sightings rather difficult question to answer, (which are actually dolphin, skate however there are some scientific and dead horseshoe crab sight- variables that do play a role. Two of the most crucial pieces ings), really seem to rise around Ocean City. However, after 15 to this puzzle are water temperayears as a beach lifeguard I do ture and level of salinity. Warmer know of one particular menacing water increases the likelihood of a ocean creature that can cause jellyfish invasion, which is why we problems for our vacationers, the typically see more of them in the later part of the summer. The sajellyfish. linity (saltiness) of the waIn reality, shark attacks ter is affected by the aare highly unlikely; in fact, mount of rain and fresh there has never been one water runoff that occurs. If in Ocean City. Statistically the water has a high salt speaking there is an array content caused by little of accidents that are much fresh water mixing with the more likely than a shark salt water or it has a lower attack such as being than normal salinity causstruck by a flying beach umbrella, suffocating in a RYAN COWDER ed by large amounts of sand hole, or being struck by fresh water runoff mixing (like we lightning. A jellyfish sting is more have seen this year with all the likely to happen than any of these spring rain), then the jellyfish popincidents. I have seen grown men ulation will be lower than normal. cry and children run to their moth- Jellyfish thrive when the salinity is ers for comfort after being stung in a normal range and the other by jellyfish. The type of jelly that factors are conducive (water temwe typically see in this area is perature, wave action and wind direction) known as the sea nettle. Considering the prevention of The sea nettle jellyfish is saucer-shaped with brown or red pig- being stung, the best thing one ment and usually 6-12 inches in could do is stay out of the water. diameter. Long tentacles hang But that’s not really fun, is it? One from the bell shape of the jellyfish could also wear a rash guard, wetand can extend several feet. suit or shirt while the jellyfish popThese long tentacles can have ulation is high. The sting of a sea thousands of nematocysts or nettle is typically not potent estinging cells that act like har- nough to go through clothing. The poons and fire into the victim. sting is even not strong enough to This all sounds quite scary, but pierce tougher skin on the body. the fact is that the sting from a That is why we almost rarely see a sea nettle or any other jellyfish sting on the hands or feet. Swimencountered in Ocean City is mers can also do what many lifegenerally harmless. There are a- guards, surfers and I do. Just deal bout four different species in with it and realize the sting is not Maryland that can sting. There so bad and will probably go away are also several species that can- in a short amount of time. not sting. The sea nettle is the By this point everyone is thinkmost prevalent of the stinging jel- ing, “What is the best medicine if I lyfish. While causing moderate to am stung?” I have literally heard severe discomfort, the pain and the entire spectrum of responses irritation generally will go away in over the years, including vinegar, about 15-30 minutes. There is a baking soda, meat tenderizer, slight chance that a person can sand, urine, etc. I typically tell have a severe allergic reaction or people, “time” is the best medianaphylactic reaction similar to cine. Removal of the sting cell or the reaction some people have to when the cell dies off is when the a bee sting. pain will be alleviated. Our lifeguards do typically carry Most of us just experience pain and a little swelling from a bee a “sting-kill” wipe in their medical sting, but for a small number of kits that will help to alleviate some the population a bee sting can be of the pain. If you feel that you have deadly. These people need to car- been stung, please seek assistance ry medication for immediate treat- from our surf rescue technicians. ment in the event that a bee As always, remember to “Keep stings them. But I will say that in your feet in the sand until the life15 years of beach lifeguarding I guard’s in the stand!” have never seen a jellyfish sting – Ryan Cowder that had a serious anaphylactic Special To The Dispatch reaction, although it is possible. A (The writer has been with the person with a seafood allergy or Beach Patrol for 15 years and is curbee sting allergy may have a rently a sergeant. He is an assistant higher risk of developing anaphy- principal at Stephen Decatur High lactic shock if stung by a jellyfish. School.)
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