Jellyfish sting hundreds at Florida beaches over the weekend, and beach goers are growing concerned for their safety in the seas. The multiple incidents which resulted to jellyfish sting hundreds, that's at least 400 beach goers, occurred in Volusia County, along Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach.
On Volusia County's Facebook page, it was reported that beach officials and lifeguards were prompted to raise purple and yellow flags along the beaches due to the swarm of jellyfish sting hundreds.
According to The Washington Post, the flags mean warning signs for hazardous marine life, which especially includes the swarm of serial stingers.
Volusia County Beach Safety Captain Tammy Marris told Reuters, "It could be thousands. It's hard to see them in the water right now. All you can see are the ones on shore."
Marris said that a swarm which arrived Friday were of majority of the jellyfish sting hundreds. They reportedly went along New Smyrna Beach.
On Saturday, WFTV reported officials confirming about 257 people being treated for stings in Daytona Beach. On Sunday, an additional 184 beach goers in New Smyrna Beach were also treated for stings.
On Sunday as well, when the number of stingers decreased, it appeared that the coast was already clear. However, lifeguards were still on standby to help if swimmers were to get stung and injured.
According to USA Today, though jellyfish sting hundreds in the Florida beaches, no one was seriously injured. Lifeguards were also ready to treat anyone with the stings with vinegar.
On Monday, Marris said there were only four reports of people stung by jellyfish.
To treat stings, there are several ways including home remedies such as using vinegar and salt water. Reuters reported that lifeguards had stocked vinegar to provide instant relief for those stung.
Capt. Ray Manchester, with Volusia County Beach Safety said, "They have some vinegar that they can put on there, which helps get through the pain a little faster."
Meanwhile, authorities believe the jellyfish sting hundreds happened as the sea creatures were just carried onto the ocean shores.
Manchester said, "They're clear except for one little spot of color in the middle."
Officials are also still trying to identify what type of species which was responsible for the jellyfish sting hundreds incidents, reports WFTV.
Marris said that the swarm was in fact not uncommon in the area. She added that the county beaches normally witness this large number of jellyfish about a dozen times a year.
The Orlando Sentinel also reported that just two weeks ago, the jellyfish sting hundreds as well, more than 400 people at the same beaches which were swarmed over the weekend.
According to the National Science Foundation, in Florida, about 200,000 people are annually stung by the transparent sea creatures.
Marris told USA TODAY Network, "Jellyfish and anything in the water are at the mercy of the current and the winds."
In the meantime, according to WFTV, though the jellyfish sting hundreds over the weekend seemed to have died down, more can be expected in the coming days.
Beach safety officials said that more jellyfish may be swept ashore on Monday by some big surf moving in from Tropical Storm Cristobal.
Jellyfish sting hundreds of what they perceive as threats through their tentacles. Stings may vary and can range from light, to severe, to life-threatening. However, very few cases have been reported as having gone over the border of life-threatening, according to the National Science Foundation.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
