VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla.,None — One of the most venomous creatures on earth is in the waters off Volusia County beaches. Beach Patrol officers say sea wasp jellyfish stung more than 30 people Thursday in Volusia County. Even a group of lifeguards had to be treated for painful stings.
The sea wasps are in the same family as box jellyfish, which have caused deaths in Australia.
The jellyfish have been an issue for the last couple of days on Volusia County beaches. Beach Patrol says you can be swimming next to one and not know it until you're stung.
Sea wasps are lurking in the water off Volusia County beaches, their venomous tentacles floating in the water.
"One of our friends got stung by one walking the beach at night and she had a lesion under her foot from it," beachgoer Casey Hoffman said.
A jellyfish sting is the last thing a vacationer wants to deal with, but WFTV found out 30 people were stung Thursday. Beach Patrol has the purple flags out warning swimmers of the dangers.
"We've got very few washing up on the beach, but when you get entangled in one you know it," said Captain Scott Petersohn, Volusia County Beach Patrol.
Sea wasps are strong swimmers, so it's rare to see them dead on the sand. A close cousin of the deadly Australian box jellyfish, known to kill people in minutes, these creatures are found in most North American waters, according to wildlife experts.
"They're the most terrible pain in the world and you don't want to get stung. Just stay away from them," beachgoer Paige Dutton said.
Lifeguards compare its pinch to a bee sting.
"It stings for a while, but it's not as bad as some of the other stings we get out here," Petersohn said.
In case of an emergency, each lifeguard tower is equipped with a first aid kit and inside is a bottle of vinegar. Pouring it on the sting is supposed to reduce the pain and burning sensation.
In the worst case scenario, if a victim is allergic, the sting can cause an anaphylactic shock or seizure, and in the rarest cases even death. If needed, Beach Patrol has a shot available to help those who go into shock.
Sea wasps are usually found in deeper water, so staying close to shore is the best way to prevent being stung.