Here’s What You Need To Do If You Get Stung By A Jellyfish In New Jersey

If you've spent any time in the Barnegat Bay this summer, you may have noticed that you're seeing more and more jellyfish in the water.

Just last week my wife and I were catching a sunset in Ocean Gate and during our walk to the Wildwood Avenue pier, we noticed a ton of Jellyfish floating around in the water.

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Over the weekend we were sitting on the dock at B2 Bistro in Bayville and again saw a ton of little jellyfish floating around in the water.

Even my 7-year-old cousin mentioned that she's seen, and I quote,  "a bazillion jellyfish this summer!"

Why Are There So Many Jellyfish In The Barnegat Bay?

Like most things, there are seasons, and according to the NJDEP jellyfish season runs from mid-May through the end of August.

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In the Barnegat Bay, we have a few main types of Jellyfish; Sea Nettle's, Comb Jelly's, and Clinging Jellyfish.

According to Save The Barnegat Bay, sea nettles and clinging jellyfish thrive in waters that are a little more polluted and can give you a nasty sting if you get too close to one.

What To Do If You Get Stung By A Jellyfish

Thanks to the show Friends, you may be like me, and think the solution is urinating on the area where someone got stung.

To save you from a potential future embarrassing situation, that's not the case at all.

According to Save The Barnegat Bay, if you do get stung by a jellyfish there are a few steps you should take.

If you're stung by a sea nettle; wash the area off with seawater and remove any tentacles.

Remove any stingers left on your body and then cover the area in shaving cream, or make a paste out of baking soda and seawater and let it dry.

Finally, scrape off the past when it dries.

If you're stung by a clinging jellyfish: pour white vinegar on the afflicted area, remove any tentacles or stingers, and then cover it with a hot or cold compress to help alleviate the pain.

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If the pain lasts a prolonged amount of time, you should then seek medical attention.

Jellyfish are just a part of life near the Jersey Shore, but it's always good to know what to do just in case you get a little too close to one someday.

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By the way, if you want to take your dog to the beach this year, here are Jersey's dog-friendly beaches you should check out.