More Portuguese Man-of-War sightings on Myrtle Beach coast; Professor talks about remedies for stings

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WPDE) — Beachgoers should exercise caution as there has been an increase in sightings of Portuguese Man o’ War along the coast in the greater Myrtle Beach area.

People have shared photos from Cherry Grove, Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island, and a marine biology professor at Coastal Carolina University (CCU) said we’re starting to see a lot of it right now, largely because of recent easterly winds.

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“They can still sting even if they wash up on shore and are completely dead. The nematocysts, the cells that actually sting, are basically spring-loaded, if you want to think of it that way. If anything touches them, they just fire,” said Eric Rosch, a marine biology associate professor.

They are generally not fatal unless you are allergic to them, but if you are allergic to anything, they can be fatal.

He said if someone needs to move the marine animal because it poses a danger to children or dogs, they can try to lift it by the “bell” or balloon. However, he advises anyone attempting to move it to be very careful and use a towel or gloves.

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If you get stung, you can soothe the sting with vinegar or meat tenderizer, he said, adding that it’s important to remove the tentacles without making the sting worse.

“If you have a credit card with you, you can scrape off the tentacles without making it any worse. In a pinch, you can also use a seashell with a flat edge,” he said.

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“Sometimes you can use it to scrape the tentacles off your legs or arms without making things worse or getting them on your hands.”