The Irish Coast Guard has issued a warning to Dublin beachgoers after several children suffered painful jellyfish stings and had to be hospitalised in recent days.
Taking to social media, The Irish Coast Guard warned that lion's mane jellyfish have been spotted at Dublin beaches in recent days. They said: "Lion’s Mane Jellyfish Warning! These jellyfish sting severely.
"@CHI_Ireland have informed the Coast Guard of several children suffering painful jellyfish stings resulting in hospitalization." It comes as Fingal County Council recently issued a warning that the dangerous lion's mane jellyfish has been sighted around the capital.
Read more: Identifying the most dangerous jellyfish in Dublin waters and treating their stings
In a statement, the council said: "Fingal County Council wishes to advise that from the middle of August and up to the second week of September, conditions are ideal for Lions Mane jellyfish: there will be a noticeable increase in their numbers on our beaches and in our waters.
"Fingal County Council is urging bathers to be extra vigilant on all of our beaches where Lions Mane jellyfish are found. Please note that even when they’re dead and washed up on the beach, the venom stays in their tentacles for a few days.
"With so many long trailing tentacles there is a chance you could still get stung, even when you try not to swim near them. Also, fragments of the lion's mane jellyfish's tentacles that break off in the water will sting you, even if they're no longer attached to the jellyfish."
The Council warned that a sting from a lion’s mane jellyfish can cause nausea, sweating, cramps, headaches and other symptoms and severe stings should seek urgent medical attention. They said if you are stung by a lion’s mane jellyfish, you should remove any attached tentacles with a gloved hand, stick, or towel.
The stung area should be rinsed with sea water and when you get home, you can bathe or rinse the area in warm to hot water. You should also apply a "dry cold pack" to the area, for example, you could wrap ice in a plastic bag and then wrap a t-shirt around the package.
Do not apply alcohol, urine or vinegar to the area. If the pain remains severe, seek medical attention.
Read Next:
-
Dublin beachgoers warned after lion's mane jellyfish spotted
Warning after RTE star Joe Duffy injured on Dublin beach by dangerous fish
Government to use smallpox vaccine on people 'at risk' to fight monkeypox outbreak
Skin cancer warning signs to look out for as sun hits Ireland
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox
