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Stay Away from the Man O War or Jellyfish you May See

By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

Real Estate Broker/Owner with M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. BK629999

April 21, 2009 11:44 AM

On our trip to the beach the other day, another interesting creature we came across was the Man O War. These things can be dangerous if you get too close to them or step on their tentacles. They can cause swelling, stinging, burning, itching and in some people severe allergic reactions.

Some can have tentacles that are several inches long.

If you do step on one of these, wash the area with salt water or fresh water quickly.

If the pain continues you can apply heat or cold whichever works better.

Try to stay away from these as some people are severely allergic to them. They can cause difficulty breathing and can cause large welts.

Watch out for those Man O War

Stay away from the Man o war

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores Realtor, Melbourne FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

Palm Bay Florida Real Estate News

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Karina Morgan

CENTURY 21 Regency Realty - Enterprise, AL

Thanks for the heads up, Not sure if we have them up here in the panhandle, I do see jelly fish all the time,

Good tips prior to summer.

Take care, keep em coming

Karina

Apr 21, 2009 12:49 PM

Mary Douglas

United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO

REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Sandy, Thanks for the photos and info -- I have never seen one of these ! Aren't they supposed to be in the water?

Apr 21, 2009 01:20 PM

Goodbye Active Rain

Out of Real Estate

These look very cool. I remember finding out about interesting animals in FL when I did my internship on Sanibel Island 13 years ago.

Apr 21, 2009 01:29 PM

Kathy Toth

Ann Arbor Market Center Keller Williams - Ann Arbor, MI

Ann Arbor Real Estate Experts - Kathy Toth Team

I've never seen one of those up close before. Nice pictures and thanks for the warning (and accompanying information)!

Kathy

Apr 21, 2009 01:29 PM

Heather Chavez

Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID

Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

It kinda looks like a warped jelly fish, doesn't it? I've heard of a man-o-war but have never actually seen one before. Now I know to watch out for it. Thanks.

Apr 21, 2009 01:31 PM

Ann Hayden 636-399-7544

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Des Peres, MO

SelectAnn.com

Sandy,

I would not want to be on the beach with those...

Ann

Apr 21, 2009 02:03 PM

Lou Ludwig

Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL

Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Hi Sandy

I can recall the first time I met a man-of -war it was not pleasant experience.

Good luck and success

Lou Ludwig

Apr 21, 2009 02:14 PM

Justin Ukaoma

Vizion KC - Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Real Estate Investments

Well I don't live near any beaches but thanks for the heads up. Those things look completely harmless and maybe even fun to play with. If I ever see one I'll think twice.

Apr 21, 2009 03:01 PM

Tony Orefice

NorthGroup Real Estate/www.TonyORealtor.com - Concord, NC

Realtor- Cabarrus County, NC

Hi SS,

The color of the Man O War is pretty. However, where are it's tentacles?

Apr 21, 2009 03:26 PM

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS

Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA

South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Sandy, I have seen these in the wild and Justin is right, they look completely harmless drying up on a beach. I saw some in the South Pacific that were over 10 feet long. The sting is horrible. Thanks for sharing...

Apr 21, 2009 03:34 PM

Bill Gassett

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA

Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Not a lot of fun to run into these fine creatures. There are a lof of people that don't have a clue what they are.

Apr 22, 2009 12:11 AM

John Mayer

Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida - Cocoa Beach, FL

Your Beach Area Expert

Sandy - Carry a shaker of meat tenderizer. It helps with the pain - just ask my son-in-law.

Apr 22, 2009 07:30 AM

Wendy Welborne-Kimery

Keller Williams-Lake Norman Mooresville,NC - Mooresville, NC

It gives me the creeps just looking at it.

Apr 22, 2009 08:53 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Caren, Just have to keep your eyes open.

Angelia, Oh, that would be the last one of these you ever picked up. Don't ever pick one up or step on one either.

Karina, I don't know if they are in the Panhandle either.

Mary, Yes, often they are in the water and that's when you really have to be careful of them and their tentacles. They can get you on the arms or upper body.

TOTO, I suppose this would be considered an interesting animal(?)

Kathy, Hopefully you won't really see one up close.

Heather, They do look like a jellyfish.

Ann, It's okay, if you just stay away from them.

Lou, I remember as a kid being stung by one of these-it was awful!

Justin, Steer clear if you ever see one of these. Some have deathly allergic reactions to them.

Tony, This guy has his short tentacles tucked up under him. Some are very, very long, and often people step on them, not seeing them at all.

Paul, Wow, I have never seen one that is 10 feet long. That's amazing.

Bill, And those are the people that get hurt the worst by them.

John, I'll have to remember that the next trip to the beach.

Wendy, They are definitely something you don't want to touch.

Apr 22, 2009 11:15 AM

Ann Hayden 636-399-7544

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Des Peres, MO

SelectAnn.com

Sandy,

Thank you... I was thinking I was going to have to stay away from the beach...;-)

Ann Hayden in lovely Wildwood, Missouri

Apr 22, 2009 02:44 PM

Wendy Welborne-Kimery

Keller Williams-Lake Norman Mooresville,NC - Mooresville, NC

We have them at Myrtle beach too but I'm not sure which kind. I know they sting. Fortunately, I've never experienced it.

Apr 23, 2009 12:47 AM

Myrl Jeffcoat

Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Goodness Sandy - Those are dangerous! They look like harmless water balloons, or inserts for a bikini top:-)

Apr 23, 2009 01:37 PM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hey Ann, Not to worry, just be careful of these shiny guys when you're on the beach.

Wendy, Lucky for you. Their sting can be terrible.

Myrl, You always make me laugh. You're so funny!

Apr 28, 2009 01:10 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Sandy, I know well about these things. I have had jellyfish stings and they hurt plenty. Man o war must really hurt.

Apr 28, 2009 02:09 AM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi Gary, Oh, I hate to hear when someone has been through the sting of one of these little creatures. It's terrible...really something that you never do forget.

Apr 28, 2009 06:32 AM