The Transparent Threat: Jellyfish on Tybee

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Jellyfish are a normal sight along Georgia’s coast, including the beaches on Tybee Island, especially during the warmer months.

Tybee Island Fire and Ocean Rescue Captain Tadd Rubin said several species of jellyfish can be found in the water.

“There’s all different types of jellyfish anywhere from the moon jellies to the cannonball jellies there are some man o wars,” Rubin said.

Jellyfish don’t typically choose to head toward shore. Winds, tides or currents can carry the free-floating jellies closer, sometimes causing a beachgoer to get stung.

Tybee Island Ocean Rescue Supervisor Maddy Pierce said conditions have kept jellyfish near the shore.

“We do see a trend it’s worse at incoming tide so it pushes them in more but because we’ve had such a soft tide the last week they’ve kinda stuck around but even at low tide you can get stung. You can get stung at any time of the day,” Pierce said.

If a jellyfish sting happens, beach officials say not to panic and not to rely on remedies seen on social media. Instead, officials advise heading to the nearest ocean rescue stand, where lifeguards can help treat the sting and determine if additional care is needed.

Pierce described how ocean rescue staff treat jellyfish stings.

“Some breeds will leave behind almost like a gelatinous barb. If that’s left on the skin, we take compact wet sand and wipe it the direction that hair grows to make sure we clear the area. Then we have a combination of water and vinegar that we spray and it tends to help a bit. If you’re not close to one of our stands warm or hot water makes a huge difference,” Pierce said.

Beach warning flags are posted at every beach entrance to indicate conditions. Green means low hazard, yellow means medium hazard, and red means high hazard. Purple flags warn of dangerous marine life, and a double red flag means the beach is closed to the public.