Portuguese Man o' War washes up on New Jersey beach
HARVEY CEDARS, N.J. — Watch where you step, beachgoers. A Portuguese Man o' War washed up on the Jersey Shore on the first day of summer, prompting lifeguards to sound the alarm that potentially painful creatures are lurking in the waters nearby.
"When the wind is coming from the northeast, warm water from the Gulf Stream comes to shore. With the warm water, often comes seaweed (and) critters from down south," The Harvey Cedars Beach patrol said in a Facebook post with a photo of the bright purple creature.
Portuguese Man o' War can grow up to 1 foot long and 5 inches wide, but their tentacles can stretch as long as 165 feet, according to National Geographic. Because they have no way of propelling themselves forward, the creatures drift on currents or catch the wind to travel through warm ocean waters.
Though an ominous reputation precedes them, Portuguese Man o' War rarely kill the unfortunate humans who come into contact with their tentacles, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Their stings, however, can leave bright red, whip-like lashes on their victims and be extremely painful. In some cases, a trip to the hospital may be necessary.
Symptoms of a Man o' War sting can range in severity and include:
Abdominal pain
Changes in pulse
Chest pain
Collapse
Headache
Muscle pain and muscle spasms
Numbness and weakness
Pain in the arms or legs
Raised red spot where stung
Runny nose and watery eyes
Swallowing difficulty
Sweating
To treat a Man o' War sting, first call over a lifeguard. Apply salt water only to the wound,according to the Journal of Emergency Nursing. Fresh water will make it worse, as will rubbing the sting, the journal notes.
Beachgoers are urged to be aware of their surroundings and alert a lifeguard if they spot a Man o' War or any other jellyfish. Experts advise those looking to soak up the sun along the coast to avoid swimming in water known to harbor jellyfish.
Related: Check out these 'moon jellyfish' that can rearrange their limbs:
