Dubliners have been warned to watch out for lion's mane jellyfish after sightings at beaches in the capital.
Fingal County Council issued a warning to Dubliners that the jellyfish have been spotted "at a few of their beaches" over the last couple of days. They said they are "urging bathers to be extra vigilant on all of our beaches where Lions Mane jellyfish are found". The Council added that even when they’re dead and washed up on the beach, the venom stays in their tentacles for a few days.
They continued: "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."
Read more: Do Not Swim notice for popular Dublin beach due to high levels of bacteria
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.
If you experience any symptoms worse than "minor discomfort" you should seek medical assistance. If you have been stung, you should not rub the area or urinate on the sting. You also should not put alcohol, vinegar or wrap a tight bandage on the sting.
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