Swarm of Dangerous Jellyfish Found on UK Shores; Here's What to Do When You Get Stung

Beachgoers have been warned to exercise caution after hundreds of jellyfish washed ashore on the shores of the United Kingdom.

Portuguese Man O'War and Compass jellyfish swarms have both been seen along the beach thus far.

According to WalesOnline, they are lovely but may sting badly, so it's better to view them from a distance.

Several Swarms of Deadly Jellyfish Found on UK Shores

A Portuguese Man O'War that may be "deadly" has been discovered recently on the UK shores, Devon Live reported. If individuals come in touch with the organisms' tentacles, which mimic those of jellyfish but are actually siphonophores, they will suffer from severe stings.

For individuals who could experience a strong response, they can be lethal. On Monday, July 4, a dead body was reportedly seen washing up on Woolacombe's Barricane Beach.

Two Devon specialists have determined that the monster in a photo of it that was discovered next to a compass jellyfish and posted on Facebook is a Portuguese Man O'War. People are warned not to touch it because its sting is strong, even after it has died.

The Mirror reported in March that a deadly jellyfish gave one swimmer an "uncomfortable rash" when they came in contact with the sea monster on a Devon beach.

The jellyfish, known as the Portuguese Man o'War, often uses its frightening feelers to kill fish. Its eerie tentacles have enough venom to administer a terrible sting, sometimes with lethal results.

The strange-looking blobs are typically observed in the Indian Ocean or the Atlantic Ocean.

The deadly Portuguese Man o' Wars is a non-binary siphonophore that resembles a beautiful blue jellyfish and is made up of microscopic creatures called zooids.

Meanwhile, other beachgoers spotted several compass jellyfish or Chrysaora hysoscella in the region. Mirror UK explained that the creature's name from the brown patterns on its body resembles a compass.

The brown patterns on top of the bell, which are often transparent yellowish-white jellyfish, have V forms radiating from a central point that gives them the appearance of a compass.

Between May and October, when the sea temperature is in the double digits, they are a frequent sight on Welsh seas.

In Pembrokeshire, the sea temperature reaches 14°C by July and reaches a high of a little over 15°C in September.

The compass jellyfish, which is often 30 cm wide, eats tiny fish, crabs, and even other jellyfish.

They have a potent sting that is a little stronger than that of many of the less aggressive jellyfish species.

A group of frilled oral arms and a ring of long, thin marginal tentacles surround the bell's edge on the compass jellyfish.

Once they've stung something, they frequently abandon the tentacle behind since it may still hurt even when detached from the body.

Cause of Increasing Number of Jellyfishes

Although jellyfish are frequently found around the shore, recent reports of their abundance across the nation have piqued people's curiosity. What then is driving this rise in marine tourists?

Independent explained that summertime temperatures are higher, which enables jellyfish to "bloom" into vast numbers. When temperatures are higher and there is more sunshine, blooms are more frequent because there is more plankton for the jellyfish to consume, which boosts their number.

Jellyfish are weak swimmers by nature and have a tendency to float on the water's surface, which causes the wind and water current to carry them towards beaches where they gather on the coastlines.

Overfishing is another issue that affects jellyfish populations. This is because fewer fish means less competition for the little fish, crabs, and plankton that make up a jellyfish's diet, which allows its number to grow.

About Jellyfish Stings

All jellyfish have stinging cells, or "stingers" on their tentacles, HSE reported. These stingers, which contain venom, can be released by brushing against the tentacles (poison). The epidermis acts as a natural barrier to most stings, and depending on the species of jellyfish, the stingers may not be sharp enough or long enough to penetrate the skin. The lips and other more sensitive parts could be easier to puncture.

You run a higher chance of being stung if you:

• Touch the jellyfish
• Swim or dive in jellyfish areas without protective gear in an area known to have a lot of jellyfish, especially on a downwind beach
• Play or take sunbathe in the jellyfish-filled beach area.

Rinsing a sting with vinegar usually works best, Kids Health said. Vinegar is a mild acid that might prevent certain stings from activating their stingers (especially from dangerous types like box jellyfish).

Avoid rinsing with new water to avoid setting off more stingers, such as bottled or tap water. Seawater rinsing after a stung may stop stingers from injecting additional venom.

Do not remove any stingers that are still embedded in the flesh. This was once advised, but today it's believed to aggravate stings.

Immediately seek medical attention if someone has been stung.

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