You never expect trouble in paradise, but it sure helps to know what avoid if you know what to look for.
However,
trouble can sometimes come in an attractive package. If you're not
familiar with it, you might mistake something dangerous for innocent
beauty. And who could blame you? When you're on vacation in a tropical
paradise, you usually keep an eye out for the unfamiliar, the strange,
and the beautiful. That's why you left home, right?
Unfortunately,
nature's surprises tend to come with harsh consequences. Hopefully this
information will help you, or someone you know, avoid a painful
mistake.
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You wouldn't be the first person to be fooled by the beauty of this purplish bubble.
It's certainly a nice looking creature, sure to attract curious people wandering on a beach.
They don't even have the means to propel themselves in the water, just that tell-tale bubble that keeps them afloat.
There are tentacles
— 30-foot-long ones at that. Some of which have been known to extend
up to 165 feet!
They can deliver a nasty sting that it typically uses to paralyze its prey.
It causes painful welts and, in rare cases, can even kill.
But the really harsh thing about the Portuguese man o' war, aside
from its attractive appearance, is that it remains dangerous even after
it washes up on shore.
You don't have to be in the water to be stung. It can deliver its venom weeks after being stranded on the beach.
If you do get stung, don't pee on the infected area. You might have heard that's a good idea, but it can actually make things worse.
Instead, use cold compresses to bring down the swelling. If it gets worse, or you show signs of having an allergic reaction, go to the hospital.
Above all, heed the warning signs and directions from lifeguards.
You don't want to get caught in the water with these things.
