Jelly fish stings are a common annoyance among beachgoers and ocean enthusiasts. In some parts of the world, they are more than nuisance. They can be fatal. According to research papers published by the National Institute of Health, an estimated 150 million people around the world are stung by jellyfish every year. In the United States alone, 500,000 jellyfish stings are estimated to occur annually in the Chesapeake Bay and up to 200,000 stings are reported in Florida waters. Massive outbreaks of jellyfish often result in beach closings and lost revenue.
For decades, scientists and beach enthusiasts have searched for an effective method of guarding against the painful, costly, and sometimes lethal barbs of these spineless, mindless creatures from the deep.
Combine Clothing and Sting Inhibitor
Scientists have developed sting inhibiting creams based on the mucous of clownfish, and surfers have long known about the absolute barrier to stings provided by a thin layer of clothing. Combining the two technologies provides the most effective protection from jellyfish stings.
Clothing such as a wetsuit, dive skin suit, or even a rash guard and pantyhose prevents jellyfish stings from penetrating the skin. However, it is usually impractical to cover every inch of skin, not to mention the damper it puts on fun. That’s where sting inhibiting lotions and creams come into play.
Use lycra suits, rashguards, wetsuits or pantyhose to cover up as much skin as possible. Then, slather any exposed skin remaining in jellyfish inhibitor lotion; most come with UV inhibitors so protection from the sun is included.
One caveat: unfired stinging cells clinging to the outside of the clothing can continue to sting if touched. For that reason, it is best to rinse off before disrobing, and take care not to touch the fabric until after it has been fully dried or washed.
Clown Fish Mucous, the Secret to Inhibitor Lotion
Clownfish are unique among their piscine neighbors in that they are able to withstand the embrace of certain sea anemones’ toxic tentacles. The venom of the sea anemone is similar to that of the jellyfish. It is deadly to most fish and yet the clown fish can live inside an anemone without harm because the slimy mucous that coats their skin is adapted to protect them from their venomous hosts.
The topical sting inhibitor Safe Sea, based on the properties of clown fish mucous, is the only product shown to be nearly 85 percent effective at protecting skin against the stinging cells of jellyfish in laboratory tests. While it mimics properties of clownfish mucous, the formula and the exact mechanism of defense are proprietery information held by the product manufacturer.
Field tests conducted in Belize and Florida showed that it was only slightly less effective in real world situations (80 percent). The study of the product Safe Sea SPF15, was conducted by Doctor David Boulware, of the University of Minnesota and reported in the Journal of Travel Medicine (A Randomized, Controlled Field Trial for the Prevention of Jellyfish Stings With a Topical Sting Inhibitor, J Travel Med. 2006; 13(3): 166–171 )
Why Dressing Before Swimming is a Good Idea
Surfers, scuba divers and snorkelers have long known that wetsuits and dive skins allow them to plow through the clinging tentacles of a loathsome sea nettle without a single sting. That’s because the nematocysts (stinging cells of sea nettles) are too small to penetrate the thin layer of protection offered by even the flimsiest of fabrics.
In fact, the stinging cells are too small in most cases to penetrate the relatively thick skin at the palms and bottoms of the feet. While one should absolutely never touch a dangerous jellyfish, there is a popular experiment that marine biology professors often encourage new students and skeptics to try. Pick up a jellyfish that has been washed up on the beach (preferably a sea nettle or some very harmless, mildly painful variety). Place a portion of a tentacle on the palm of the hand and notice that there is no sting. Place another portion of the tentacle on the inside of the forearm. Ouch! Theory proven.
A Swimmer Doubly Shielded is Protected From Jellyfish Stings
Questions remain about how to fully protect swimmers from jellyfish stings. Wearing a Lycra dive skin or pantyhose at the beach is not the most popular solution. Lotions that are only 80 percent effective leave open a window of vulnerability. But, when the jellyfish are thick, and the risk of being stung is high, the smartest way to hit the water is to be shielded by these two proven techniques.
Kimbra Cutlip - Kimbra Cutlip is a feature writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications including the Washington Post, Environment magazine, ...
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