Portuguese man o' war warnings issued in Myrtle Beach after strong currents wash venomous wildlife ashore
Myrtle Beach officials warn that the water is not the only place to be alert for the painful stinger, as these creatures can still send a nasty zap on shore.
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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Officials with the Myrtle Beach Police Department are advising beachgoers to be on the lookout, as strong currents are washing marine vegetation and venomous wildlife ashore—including the potential for the Portuguese man o’ war.
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The department took to Facebook regarding the recent ocean current activity, sharing a picture of the painful stinger and warning that the water is not the only place to be alert, as these creatures can still send a nasty zap on shore.
Myrtle Beach Police Department warns of dangerous Portuguese man o' war as strong currents are washing marine vegetation and venomous wildlife on shore.
(Myrtle Beach Police Department / Facebook)
"If someone is stung, remove the tentacles as quickly as possible, and put vinegar on the affected area to deactivate the stinging cells," they said.
Since the Portuguese man o' war is mostly found in tropical and subtropical seas, these species typically wash ashore along the Gulf Coast and U.S. Southeast coast.
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The species is a highly venomous and very closely related to a jellyfish that floats like a blue, violet or pink-colored balloon atop the ocean surface.
Portrait of a Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis), Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
(hoto by Wild Horizons/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
While rarely fatal to humans, a man o' war sting leaves painful, burning welts on exposed skin.
Most recently, these dangerous creatures were spotted from Florida to Texas in early April, including an incident where a young boy was stung on Galveston Island.
Krysti Griffith and her family were vacationing on the island when her 3-year-old son picked up a dried-up man o' war, not knowing exactly what he had just set into motion.
Keegan mistakenly picked up a beached Portuguese Man O' War in Galveston, Texas, and shortly after felt the excruciating pain from the venomous sea creature.
(Krysti Griffith)
Roughly 30 seconds later, the young boy was in agonizing pain.
The family rushed him to hospital, where he was treated with a "jellyfish paste" made up of vinegar, meat tenderizer and lidocaine, which caused the pain to subside.
During the Spring, Portuguese Man O' War are washed up along the Gulf Coast, like this one pictured in Galveston Island, Texas.
(Krysti Griffith)
Now that venomous wildlife has been washing ashore in Myrtle Beach, officials are advising all beachgoers to stay alert, monitor their surroundings and seek assistance if stung.