Florida’s hidden danger signal: Which lifeguard flags warn of jellyfish in the waters?
Lifeguards have warned of an increased risk of jellyfish stings for beach-goers in Volusia County this weekend.
With warm weather predicted for this weekend coastal areas around the country are expected to get an influx of visitors to take advantage.
A sunny day at the beach is one of the joys of life but there could be danger lurking in the water. Visitors to Volusia County, Florida should be wary of an increase in jellyfish numbers reported in recent days.
The beach safety team in Volusia County reported on Wednesday that 367 people had been treated by lifeguards for jellyfish stings in the past five days, a major increase on typical numbers.
Luckily, there is information available for beach-goers through the beach warning flag system that could avoid a painful experience. Lifeguards will display a purple flag to warn of dangerous marine life in the water, such as jellyfish. Swimmers should also be wary of the red flag to indicate strong rip currents that may not be visible from the shore.
Speaking earlier this week Volusia Beach Safety Director Tammy Malphurs warned that there are likely to be jellyfish in the water for weeks to come because they often remain in areas with favorable conditions. Every few years a large number descends on the beach and lifeguards do their best to inform visitors.
Malphurs explained: “Our guards go out there are swim first thing in the morning and that kind of is the indicator of if the jellyfish are still out there. A bunch of them got stung this morning so they’re still out there. We are flying that red and purple flag today. The purple flag is for stinging marine life.”
To combat the danger, lifeguards are being equipped with jug of vinegar to clean the wounds of affected visitors. They also advise that people do not scratch the wound when stung and to go to a lifeguard if possible.
Lifeguards will be able to check for an allergic reaction and by informing them of the sting they are better able to keep track of jellyfish numbers in the water.
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