After the purple jellyfish that have made their appearance in the Greek seas, now it is time for the blue jellyfish.
In particular, as the Hellenic Biodiversity Observatory reports, for one month there will be - as every year - a population surge of the blue jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo. These population booms are seen from mid-June to mid-July in deeper waters - away from the beaches, except on days when winds and currents bring them to our shores.
Blue jellyfish: What they look like and what to do if they touch us
If they touch us we feel a burning and itching sensation, but because of the mucus with the toxins they release into the water we can feel the burning and itching even if we don't touch them and just swim next to them.
Although one can easily push them away from their bell and because of their size it is difficult for someone to fall on them, one has to be very careful when touching them not to touch their face because it will swell up immediately (it is like touching a chilli pepper inside and then touching your face).
Rhizostoma pulmo[/B], which is their scientific name, are large in size. Up to 90 cm in bell diameter they can have and we see them either white or blue, which always have a purple stripe around the edge of their bell.
However, as mentioned our own outbreaks are not as large as those of the Adriatic.
[BR][BR]Purple jellyfish: The spread map
The JellyReport is based only on the records that enter the iNaturalist platform and not on social networks. Based on the June records on the iNaturalist platform, we see most of the population spike is in the Argosaronic and Ionian Sea, from central Greece downwards.
Reports on social networks give much smaller populations in Halkidiki, Crete, North Euboeikos and Dodecanese for the month of June, according to the Hellenic Biodiversity Observatory.
As the Greek Biodiversity Observatory notes in its latest update, only by properly observing the winds on a daily basis can we get a better picture of what is happening on the beaches of our interest and go swimming.
Purple jellyfish sting: What to have with you on the beach
It is advisable to have the following with you on the beach in order to be able to deal with the purple jellyfish sting:
- A plastic card (e.g.
- A pair of tweezers.
- A cup (e.g. a urine collector).
- A little baking soda (1:1 ratio with seawater).
- Some baking soda (1:1 ratio with seawater).
- An antihistamine pill.
- Some cortisone cream, e.g. fucicort
Symptoms after contact with purple jellyfish
Nematocysts produce on human skin erythema, swelling, burning as well as sometimes severe dermatonecrotic, cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects, which are particularly dangerous in sensitive individuals.
More specifically, the possible symptoms after being stung by Pelagia noctiluca (purple jellyfish) are:
- Burn-like pain, often intense reddening of the skin, and in some cases appearance on part of your skin of the imprint of the jellyfish
- Nausea
- Falling πίεσης
- Ταχυκαρδία
- Κεφαλαλγία
- Εμετός
- Διάρροια
- Σπασμός των βρόγχων
- Δύσπνοια
Τι κάνουμε
- Πλένουμε προσεκτικά με θαλασσινό νερό, without rubbing the bite area.
- If available, apply a mixture of seawater and baking soda (in a 1:1 ratio) for two minutes to stop any additional secretion of venom from possible tentacle cell debris left on the skin.
- Use a plastic bank card or similar (not your hands) to remove the baking soda mixture and any residue from your skin
- Apply ice to the bite for 5-15 minutes. The ice, or even an iced drink, should be in a bag or some other wrapping, such as a cloth or t-shirt.
- Check to see if the pain has subsided, and if necessary reapply ice for another 5-15 minutes.
- If the pain persists, consult a doctor or pharmacist to prescribe painkillers or anti-inflammatory creams (such as 3-4% lidocaine and hydrocortisone).
- MHN wrap the sting site tightly with bandages, DO NOT use vinegar, NOT fresh water, NOT alcohol, NOT ammonia.
Source: ERT
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