
SOEST scientists scrutinize first aid for man o’ war stings
In recent decades, trusted first aid resources have recommended stings from man o’ war (Physalia species) be treated differently from other jellies

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Just imagine a tight restriction to the exit that is now blocked on both sides by box jellies... who is the sacrificial monkey to clear a path?Rash guards will stop the sting, but the bastards seem to know where the bear skin is. Fortunately, they haven't made it to cave country.![]()
Bubbles.Just imagine a tight restriction to the exit that is now blocked on both sides by box jellies... who is the sacrificial monkey to clear a path?
john, my wife and i have been in tavernier (fl keys) diving with Conch Republic Divers since the first of january. winds have been out of the south east, driving the pelagic man o wars inshore. we see quite a few out on the reefs, no big deal. keep your eyes out going in and surfacing. most man o war here are a little bigger than a hot dog bun (the sail) tentacles are hanging down less than 10 feet. i will keep an eye out and try and get some pictures on the surface and underwater of them.So what does South Florida do when hundres of man o' wars wash up on the beaches? In our area, they put out purple flags or marks on boards to alert beach-goers to the danger. People seem satisfied with that level of protection.
This is a sharp contrast to what I experienced 1.5 years ago during a family reunion in Rhode Island. We were on a public beach when someone apparently notified a lifeguard of a man o' war sighting. I don't believe its existence was actually confirmed. Another man found a common jelly, the kind that might give a minor sting. The lifeguards cleared the beach of all water activity for over an hour until they were sure there were no other sightings. Everyone crowded on the beach in the blazing sun waiting for a chance to go back in the water, while the man who had found the jelly strutted up and down the beach carrying a box with the jelly so that all could see the horror from which he had saved them. I suspect that if they had seen actual man o'war, they would have closed the beach for a month and summoned the national guard.