SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) — Seashells weren’t the only thing washing ashore on the Panhandle this week.
Last weekend’s southerly wind caused various jellyfish species to wash ashore.
Various species of jellyfish have arrived just in time for spring break.
“One thing we are concerned about is a lot of people are coming in for spring break this coming week, and we’re flying purple flags because we have these man o’ war jellyfish and the driven by the sea sailors that are coming up on the beach,” South Walton Fire District Beach Safety lieutenant Joe Jansen said. “And potentially we get a lot of questions, but they can sting and what they can also do is cause an allergic reaction that can be severe.”
“I think the urban legends are probably not true about what you’re supposed to do and maybe going number one to help out so I wouldn’t really know,” beachgoer Jackson Gillespie said.
“Probably put some aloe vera or something on it, but I’m kind of educated about that safety.”
Jansen said the urban legend is not true.
“The old wise tale because what you’re really getting out of that is warm water,” Jansen said.
Whether you are on a private or public beach it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and know what beach accesses point you are closest to in case an emergency occurs.
