Jellyfish Sting Hundreds: 400+ Stings Reported By Florida Beach-Goers

Jellyfish sting hundreds in Florida oceans according to reports this week. Over 400 people reported being stung by jellyfish at several Florida beaches over the weekend. Lifeguards treated the stings with vinegar, a common cure that takes the burning sensation away. According to dbTechno, none of the stings were serious or required any additional medical treatment.

Apparently the beaches in Volusia County sees swarms of jellyfish quite a few times a year, so numerous stings on swimmers are not uncommon.

“The swarm is actually not something new for the area, said Volusia County Beach Safety Captain Tammy Marris. She said the county beaches see this size of a swarm about a dozen times a year.”

When jellyfish sting hundreds of people, there are usually thousands of the jellies in the nearby waters. All a jellyfish needs to do is rub itself against a part of the human body for someone to feel the unpleasant sting. For some, the stings are quite painful. According to The Washington Post, surfer Jerry Phillips let out a scream when he got stung.

“I think the tentacles wrapped all the way around my leg and really stung me. I did scream a little bit.”

Other people that got stung experienced similar reactions and subsequent symptoms. One young girl ended up with 12 welts on her body, which is another common symptom of a jellyfish sting. Those who saw the jellies recalled them being close to shore and all different sizes, which also is common.

As far as treating jellyfish stings at home, experts say that salt water should help stop the sting. Despite an old wives tale that urinating on jellyfish stings will help alleviate pain, it actually can make the stinging sensation worse. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, peeing on a sting does not always help. The best solution? Picking up some topical lidocaine from your local pharmacy. The numbing agent almost always does the trick.

“Topical lidocaine, a local anesthetic, may also inactivate the stinging cells of the jellyfish, preventing further envenomation [sic].”

Another home remedy consists of making a water and baking soda paste to lather on top of the sting. The ingredients should work together to effectively neutralize the sting.

Jellyfish sting hundreds of beach goers every year in Florida. As a matter of fact, an estimated 200,000 people are stung annually in the Sunshine State.

[Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons]