Portuguese Man-Of-War, Key Biscayne,Florida

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The Portuguese Man-Of-War

The Portuguese Man-Of-War is a jelly-like marine animal that looks like a fragile blue bubble. These sea creatures are infamous for their very painful, powerful sting and very common in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Pacific and Indian oceans, and the northern Atlantic Gulf Stream which are the waters just off the island paradise of Key Biscayne. It is sometimes found floating, and often found washed ashore, normally in the winter months and when the winds are blowing onshore.

Portuguese Man-O-War or Bluebottle The man-of-war's body consists of a gas-filled, bladder-like float (a polyp, called the pneumatophore) - a translucent structure tinted pink, blue, or violet - which may be 3 to 12 inches (9 to 30 centimeters) long and may extend as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) above the water. Beneath the float are clusters of polyps, from which hang tentacles of up to 165 feet (about 50 meters) in length. The "animal" moves by means of its crest, (pictured here tinted pink) which functions as a sail.

Some of the tentacles of the Portuguese Man-Of-War bear stinging nematocystic (coiled thread-like) structures that paralyze small fish and other prey.

The sting of the Portuguese Man-Of-War is very painful to man and can cause serious effects, including fever, shock, and interference with heart and lung action. Pick off any visible tentacles. Rinse with fresh or salt water. Apply ice for pain. IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION MAY BE REQUIRED as their stinging may bring about shock.

The toxin secreted from the tentacles of the Portuguese Man-Of-War are about seventy-five percent as powerful as cobra venom.

The most common result of contact with the Portuguese Man-Of-War are the residual whip-like, red wavy, stringy welts on the skin from contact with the blue tentacle. The lesions can last for minutes to hours.

Portuguese Man-Of-War are not always obvious in the water. Tentacles may break away in the surf and inflict stings just as potent as those from attached tentacles. Even dead specimens stranded on the beach can still cause stings. Do not touch these animals with bare skin and do not enter the water if they are present.

Guarded beaches on Key Biscayne are posted with special signs by lifeguards when there are Portuguese Man-Of-War present in the Atlantic ocean. Observe these signs, stay out of the water to avoid being stung - a very painful experience.

FIRST AID SUGGESTIONS FOR A MAN-OF-WAR STING
Few Portuguese man-of-war stings in Key Biscayne cause life-threatening reactions, but this is always a possibility. Some people are extremely sensitive to the venom; a few have allergic reactions. Consider even the slightest breathing difficulty, or altered level of consciousness, a medical emergency.
For the average Portuguese Man-Of-War sting on Key Biscayne:

Key Biscayne kids learn about the man of war on the beaches
Students of the Key Biscayne Presbyterian Preschool learn about
the dangers of the Portuguese Man-Of-War from their teacher,
Miss Lourdes, on a field trip to the beach. (February, 2001)

Pick off any visible tentacles with a gloved hand, stick, or anything handy, being careful to avoid further injury.
Rinse the sting thoroughly with salt or fresh water to remove any adhering tentacles.
Apply ice for pain control.
Irrigate exposed eyes with copious amounts of room temperature tap water for at least 15 minutes. If vision blurs, or the eyes continue to tear, hurt, swell, or are light sensitive after irrigating, see a doctor.
For persistent itching or skin rash, try 1 percent hydrocortisone ointment four times a day, and one or two 25 milligram diphenhydramine (Benadryl) tablets every 6 hours. These drugs are sold without prescription. Diphenhydramine may cause drowsiness. Don't drive, swim or surf after taking this medication.

Although formerly considered effective, vinegar is no longer recommended for Portuguese man-of-war stings. In a laboratory experiment, vinegar dousing caused discharge of nematocysts from the larger (P. physalis) man-of-war species. The effect of vinegar on the nematocysts of the smaller species (which has less severe stings) is mixed: vinegar inhibited some, discharged others.

No studies support applying heat to Portuguese man-of-war stings. Studies on the effectiveness of meat tenderizer, baking soda, papain, or commercial sprays (containing aluminum sulfate and detergents) on nematocyst stings have been contradictory. It's possible these substances cause further damage. In one U.S. Portuguese man-of-war fatality, lifeguards sprayed papain solution immediately on the victim's sting. Within minutes, the woman was comatose, and later died.

Alcohol and human urine may be harmful on Portuguese man-of-war stings. An Australian study reports that both alcohol and urine caused massive nematocyst discharge in the box jellyfish, Chironex fleckeri.

Most Portuguese man-of-war stings disappear by themselves, sometimes within 15 or 20 minutes. Because of this, even harmful therapies often appear to work. A key concept in the first aid of any injury is: Do no harm. Therefore, avoid applying unproven, possibly harmful substances on stings.

REFERENCES:
The first aid information on this page is gathered from the book, All Stings Considered - First Aid and Medical Treatment of Hawaii's Marine Injuries by Craig Thomas, M.D. and Susan Scott (University of Hawaii Press, 1997) and from Dangerous marine creatures, by C. Edmonds (Reed Books Pty Ltd. Sydney).

DISCLAIMER:
The first aid information provided above is up-to-date and accurate, as far as we know, as of January, 2001. The information provided above is for general purpose use and offered as a guide that is suggestive, not prescriptive, invasive, or medical in nature. You should always consult with, or see a medical practitioner for definitive health care information or to receive medical treatment.