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45 – Jellyfish, Marine Debris, Poor Water Quality and Other Beach Hazards!
The Website For The Smart and Savvy Traveler
JELLYFISH can be more harmful than they appear to be with long, spindly tentacles that can inflict red welts and severe pain. If you should happen to come into unfriendly contact with one, however, here are some remedies to ease your pain.
Wash the stung body area with seawater
Apply vinegar, or if it is unavailable, rub alcohol or baking soda
Remove tentacles with tweezers
Apply shaving cream and shave the area with a butter knife or tongue blade.
Reapply vinegar and apply cortisone cream
Press a fresh slice of papaya on the sting, welts are supposed to disappear within minutes.
A physician should be contacted immediately if any of the following symptoms develop:
Nausea; Vomiting; Joint Pain; Headache; Shortness of Breath or a Stumbling Gait.
Other beach hazards like MARINE DEBRIS litter our seas and oceans with items that do not belong there. Huge amounts of consumer plastics, metals, rubber, paper, textiles, derelict fishing gear, vessels, and other lost or discarded items enter the marine environment every day, making marine debris one of the most widespread pollution problems facing the world's oceans and waterways.
This debris, or litter, often ends up on our beaches, damaging habitats, harming wildlife, and making it unsafe and unhealthy for beach goers to walk along the shoreline and swim in the water.
The beach-going public is often prevented from enjoying these great natural resources due to beach closures or advisories caused by POOR WATER QUALITY. As water flows from land to coastal waters, it is often contaminated by untreated sewage from boats, pets, failing septic systems, fertilizers, and spills from hazardous substances. High levels of bacteria and other chemicals in the water can cause gastrointestinal illnesses in those who swim directly in the water. When visiting the beach, be aware of all beach closures and advisories.
Other beach hazards like SHARKS, HEAT, SUNBURN, RIP CURRENTS and LIGHTNING have been discussed in this website separately. Please click these links to open in a new tab. Please also see chapters 39-44 which deal with beach related issues.