A mum badly stung by jellyfish last year has warned those enjoying the British coast t his summer to be careful following a recent close call.
Kate Lally almost stepped on a jellyfish as she was walking on Formby Beach in Merseyside yesterday (Thursday), writes the Liverpool Echo, where she works as a reporter.
Last summer the mum wrote about being attacked by a group of jelly fish swimming in the sea and shared photos of the painful stings.
Kate described her previous experiences as an "attack" due to jellyfish swarming her as soon as she entered the water.
Her right arm was stung first, then both upper legs all in a matter of minutes. The mum-of-one followed NHS guidance and the stings cleared days after the painful ordeal.
Kate said at the time the sting felt at first like a "wasp sting, over a bigger area of skin. Then it started to burn."
She said that after washing the skin with warm water, as the NHS recommends, there were "no sign of my stings and I couldn't feel anything either".
"But after a night's sleep, I woke up with horrendous, hot, itchy markings on my arm and both upper legs. Standing outside in the hot weather today makes them throb."
NHS guidance specifically states: "Do not use vinegar, and do not pee on the sting". Ice packs should also be avoided, and you shouldn't touch any spines in the sting with your bare hands, or cover or close the wound.
Talking about her latest brush with the creatures, Kate said: "After being stung so badly last summer I am always careful when I go now, but this one was almost at the bottom of the dune when you first enter the beach, nowhere near the sea. I didn't think I'd need to be on the lookout for them so far from the water and I very nearly stood on it.
"I was in agony last time and I dread to think what would happen if a little one stood on a jellyfish."
A spokesperson for the National Trust told the ECHO last summer: "During the summer months jellyfish can often be spotted in the sea around the UK.
"At Formby, you might spot varieties like the harmless barrel jellyfish, or the compass jellyfish that can give you a painful sting."
If you are stung by jellyfish the NHS recommends the following:
- rinse the affected area with seawater (not fresh water)
- remove any spines from the skin using tweezers or the edge of a bank card
- soak the area in very warm water (as hot as can be tolerated) for at least 30 minutes – use hot flannels or towels if you cannot soak it
- take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
You may also need medical assistance. If you are concerned, contact NHS 111.
