According to the Summer Season Bulletin released this Thursday (26) by the CBMSC (Santa Catarina Military Fire Department), the increase in jellyfish sightings has reached 244%. Only in 2023 there were 11,897 of them. In 2022 – 3,458.

Anyone who has received burns from jellyfish should seek help from rescuers. Photo: Arquivo/Fernando Mendes/ND

To avoid a rise in cases, the CBMSC says it is necessary to check for a lilac flag at a lifeguard station before entering the sea, as signs indicate the presence of jellyfish.

According to the coordinator of the project for monitoring jellyfish on the beaches of Campeche and Barra da Lagoa in Florianopolis, Professor Alberto Lindner of the CCB (Department of Ecology and Zoology of the Center for Biological Sciences), the occurrence of caravels (a species of jellyfish, on the coast of Santa Catarina) is increasing due to some phenomena.

“Laestada, that is, the easterly winds, eventually carries these animals from the open sea to coastal areas. But not only the east wind, but also the northeast wind, common in the summer of Santa Catarina, will bring the caravel,” he comments.

The teacher also explains some of the myths that exist around these animals.

“There are actually two types of organisms: the Portuguese caravel, the purple one that swims. And the other one called Medusa, they’re shaped like an umbrella. These are warm water animals. And it is in the summer that these animals run aground here, on the beaches of Santa Catarina, brought by the winds.

According to the researcher, caravels do not cause “burns” but poisoning, usually more severe than most species of jellyfish.

The tentacles have small capsules that inject venom through micro-harpoons called nematocysts when they accidentally touch human skin.

How to act in case of an accident

• get out of the water immediately, as poisoning can cause convulsions and there is a risk of drowning;
• Rinse with sea water to remove remnants of adherent tentacles;
• Wash with vinegar for a few minutes to deactivate the poison and prevent further inoculations from entering the skin;
• Soothe the pain with cold sea water or artificial ice wrapped in a cloth. These cold compresses have an analgesic effect in various types of poisoning by caravels or jellyfish.

what not to do

• Never urinate or use substances such as alcohol or soda on an injury, as there is no proven effectiveness of these substances in mitigating the effects of an injury;
• Never wash your face with fresh water, as this measure can increase poisoning and aggravate injury;
• Avoid using towels, sand, or other abrasive material to remove the remaining tentacles, as this can also enhance toxin injection by exploding poison capsules.