Stephanie Fsadni learns that different jellyfish stings call for different treatments, and that vinegar is not always the best remedy. Here’s where you can find the necessary information.

There are about 1,000-1,500 known species of jellyfish in oceans worldwide, and around 35 macrosopic species have been recorded in the Mediterranean. However, there are many more, smaller jellies that are not easy to detect.

In the past few years, there has been a surge in jellyfish blooms and many bathers are continuously on edge, while others prefer not to jump into the sea at all for fear of being stung.

While some species – such as the Velella velella (also known as by-the-wind sailor or purple sail), which clogged coastal areas in late April and the beginning of May, and the colourful fried egg jellyfish (Cotylorhiza tuberculata), which makes it appearance later in summer – are not harmful, others sting humans. Thus it would help if one were able to identify dangerous jellies and knew how to treat envenomation, that is poisoning through stinging. This would attenuate venom effects, prevent further envenomation from residual jellyfish pieces and keep in check occasional systemic reactions, including shock.

As part of the Med-Jellyfish project, biologists Alan Deidun and Italian colleague Stefano Piraino penned a waterproof booklet on first aid for jellyfish envenomation which is being distributed for free at local beaches and which can be downloaded for free from the Spot the Jellyfish website at www.ioikids.net/jellyfish.

The authors say there is scientific evidence and consensus on oral/topical analgesics, hot water and ice packs as effective painkillers while, for a few species, short application of vinegar may prevent further discharge of unfired jellyfish stinging cells left on the skin”.

The Med-Jelly smartphone app can be downloaded for free on both Android and iPhone mobiles. Right: The Portuguese man-of-war.

The booklet features six common and less common stinger jellyfish, a brief description of them and treatment procedures. These are:

• The common mauve stinger (Pelagia noctiluca);

• The compass jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella), which has a white-yellowish umbrella with 16 brown bands on the surface;

• The box jellyfish (Carybdea maruspialis), which has a cube-shaped umbrella with four long tentacles;

• The small dome-shaped cigar jellyfish (Olindias phosphorica) which has red cross radial canals;

• The floating Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis), which has extremely long tentacles and is very painful; and

• The large nomadic jellyfish (Rhopilema nomadica) which has a light blue umbrella and short tentacles and which entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal circa 20 years ago.

Treatments differ but come with the same warning: do not apply freshwater but seawater, and do not use alcohol. Also, one should seek immediate medical attention if shock or breathing difficulties occur.

This publication is being distributed together with a waterproof factsheet, which aims to provide answers to common questions about jellyfish. It is also available for download from the Spot the Jellyfish website.

Everyone can help fellow bathers and the marine environment by reporting jellyfish sightings. Children, parents and teachers are especially encouraged to take part in the Spot the Jellyfish campaign, a project set up by the International Ocean Institute – Malta Operational Centre at the University of Malta and IOI-Kids in 2010. This initiative aims to increase awareness of jellyfish species while supplying useful data to local marine scientists andtouris authorities.

A colourful leaflet and large seaside posters, supported by the Malta Tourism Authority, can be found on boards at main bays. The reporting is done by matching the sighted jellyfish with a visual identification guide, giving the date and time of the sighting and indicating the number of jellies seen. One can log on to www.ioikids.net/jellyfish and fill a quick online form, send an SMS on 7922 2278 or send an e-mail to ioi-moc@um.edu.mt or to alan.deidun@gmail.com. Strange jellyfish not included on the leaflet should be caught and kept in a bucketful of seawater prior to contacting IOI-MOC staff for retrieval. Photos of the caught jellies are welcome.

A Med-Jelly smartphone app was launched earlier this year and is freely available for download for both Android and iPhone mobiles. The app provides users with information about different species, sting treatment for each species, and gives one the possibility to submit a jellyfish sighting report. The app contains information on a total of 35 beaches, which covers the entire geographical area of the Maltese archipelago.

For Android phones, log on to the following link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jelly.med.mobileapp ; and for iPhones, log on to https://itunes.apple.com/LY/app/id868757617?mt=8 .

For more information, visit www.jellyrisk.eu.