Moon Jellyfish have recently been making appearances at a popular local boating destination, Jewfish Key.  Hundreds of Moon jellies were recently spotted passing through and swimmers were not sure what to do – get out of the water or keep swimming?
Don’t been too alarmed, these Jellies don’t pack too much of a stinging punch, but you do want to know what to do if you spot these guys swimming around you. Here’s a rundown on what you need to know and what to do if you get stung by a Moon Jellyfish.

Moon Jellyfish Identification:

Moon jellies are one of the common jellyfish that you will encounter while in the Gulf of Mexico, however, they are the least dangerous for humans to come in contact with.  You can easily spot them by seeing their purple or pink flower-shape with four “petals” that can be seen in their center of their sac-like body.

Moon Jellyfish Stinging Power:

Moon jellyfish do not have strong enough stinging power to penetrate through the human skin, but if you happen to get brushed by one, you will feel a minor stinging sensation.  If you do get touched or stung by a Moon Jellyfish, do not freak out!  This is not something that will ruin your day out on the boat, but you might feel a mild irritation.

What to Do if You Get Stung by a Moon Jellyfish:

Do not pee on it!  Peeing on a jellyfish sting is a total myth.  Rinsing the sting area in sea water is probably the quickest and easiest way to treat Moon Jelly stings, but if it is still irritated after rinsing with sea water, try making a paste with Baking Soda and sea water.
If you have been stung by another type of jellyfish (not a Moon jelly), read our full blog entry on Jellyfish Sting remedies for more serious jellyfish stings.