Watch out, they bite! Present on the French coasts and in the oceans of the whole world, jellyfish are part of the aquatic life of our seas. According to the Geo site, jellyfish arrived 650 million years ago. Since the 2000s, jellyfish have returned to French beaches every year. Professor of the University of Marseille Nardo Vincente explains on France Bleu: “they often arrive when there is an east or southeast wind and they will spread on the beaches”.
In France, it is possible to find different species of jellyfish more or less dangerous for humans. The most harmful that can be found on the French coasts, according to Géo, are especially the very stinging pelagic jellyfish and the blue cyan jellyfish whose stings cause burns and irritation. A rare phenomenon to see them in the past, now recurrent, a cause explains this anomaly: global warming. The water gets warmer, which is perfect for the jellyfish’s food source: plankton. This small aquatic organism can then proliferate in abundance in the waters, to the delight of the jellyfish that feed on it.
According to Professor Nardo Vincente for France Bleu: “The bite can be very serious, it can range from itching to heart attacks”. It is therefore better to force yourself to stay on the beach when they are present.
If stung, get out of the water quickly, carefully remove the tentacles if they are still snagged with an object or sand, but not with your hands. Finally, rinse thoroughly with sea water.
Apply a cream suitable for burns or an aloe vera gel with moderate amounts of cortisone when you get home. If the burning sensation persists after 48 hours, consult a doctor.
