How common is it to step on a jelly fish?

Question

Okay so We are taking the kids on vacation in June to the beach. Last night my husband and I where talking and he made it sound as if one of our 4 kids are bound to step on a Jelly fish while we are there. Like it was very common.

I am totally freaked out now How common is it?

Answer 1

Where are you going on vacation???jellyfish are not everywhere........ and if they do step on one it doesnt really hurt and they just need to rub sand on it. hope this helps

Answer 2

just be careful and pay close attention. it really depends on where you are  going and whether its the season for them or not.. My mom & I went to the gulf of mexico  in florida, and I saw all these things floating in that looked like hunks of panty hose with white stuff in them.. they were very small (not like the big ones you see on tv. (although i imagine those exist also) and I almost touched it to see what it was but thought better of it and asked my mom what is that . she said a jellyfish. I was like oh!!! glad I didnt touch it then..  Probably you're best bet is to buy them  water shoes to wear in the beach (or ocean wherever you're going) so that they dont step on anything harmful.

Answer 3

I've swam in the north Atlantic close to shore and it's quite common to see them.  They are easily avoidable, and if you do touch one you may get a sting similar to a bee/wasp, but no worse.  In  warmer waters they grow larger, and I can't tell you about those.

Not too likely that anyone would step on one because they don't rest on the bottom.  I've only seen them on the surface or maybe a couple of feet down, and they're easy to see.

Don't be freaked out over it...jellyfish don't hang out together in schools (not that I've seen).  They never attack people, so any contact is just a bit of bad luck.

Answer 4

Depends on where you are and what time of year it is; Portuguese Manowars tend to wash up on different beaches in different parts of the country at certain times of the year, and at those times it's hard NOT to step on one or get stung while in the water, since they are like little clear bubbles with hard to see long blue tentacles coming off of the bubble.  Kids often think they're neat and touch them to see what they are.  Regular jellyfish wash up too, but not as commonly.  I lived in Hawaii for many years and was stung many times by Manowar, but never by a jellyfish.  The only time I got a real Jellyfish sting was years ago off the coast of long island, just didn't see it in the sand.  So, all in all I'd say it's likely to get stung by a manowar at certain locations depending on the time of year, but not as common to get stung by jelly fish.  It feels the same though, they have the same neurotoxins and hurt like heck!  To reduce pain and swelling and to localize the toxin, use meat tenderizer (always keep some in the glove box if you go to the beach) and a yuckier but just as effective method is to pee on the site - I know, it's yucky but in a pinch it works, especially if there are many stings and it's a child - it will reduce pain, localize the toxin and give you time to seek medical treatment.  Good luck!