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Jellyfish Facts for So Cal Surfers
By Scott Valor
“Jellyfish.” Stings from this mis-named
ocean species can hurt or kill, though not all jellyfish
are poisonous. Jellyfish are more aptly named sea jellies
because they are not fish, but actually invertebrates.
They are related to corals and sea anemones and have
no head, brain, heart, eyes, ears, or bones. They feed
on plankton and rely on their net of tentacles that
contain poisonous, stinging cells, which is why humans
tend to fear them.
Recently, thousands of jellies have been arriving nearshore
and on the beach in San Diego and Orange counties. Even
as they lie on the beach, the tentacles of these jellies
can sting, especially if they are still wet.
A recent Los Angeles Times article noted that this unusual
“pack” of jellies probably moved in due
to the recent red tides—where plankton (their
food) bred in large numbers. Though winds and currents
will affect their path, they are expected to arrive
in the Santa Monica Bay region very soon, so keep an
eye out.
What happens if you get stung? Immediately wash the
wound with vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Other home remedies
include making a baking soda paste (with a very small
amount of water) or using meat tenderizer. It isn’t
a good idea to rinse the stung area with water, as that
can reactivate the poisons. If there’s a lifeguard
nearby, go see him or her as they usually have first
aid for stings.
Do pay attention to potential allergic reactions. Major
stings can cause respiratory interference—much
like a severe asthma—that needs to be treated
immediately.
While some extensive stings can be fatal, most are not
and will eventually go away, especially if you deal
with it right away.
Want to learn more about jellyfish? If you Google the
word (and include “California” or “Southern
California” for a more local perspective), there
are many sites with more information than you’ll
ever need.
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