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The typical jellyfish found in Majorca are not very good swimmers and usually arrive at the beach by the sea currents.
They feed on small fish after injecting them with paralysing poison.
For the vast majority of people, a jellyfish sting is just painful and has no long term or lethal implications.
In the Mediterranean jellyfish do not attack humans, but if you touch their tentacles, they will sting as a defence mechanism.
Usually, jellyfish stings in Majorca are not critical, unless the person is allergic to the poison or has some specific disease.
Even though they are not critical, they can be really painful and sore.
The typical symptoms are pain, burning and itching sensation, swelling and redness of the area and even bleeding.
How To Avoid Jellyfish Stings
To prevent jellyfish’s stings, here are some precautions to take:
- Keep an eye on the beach flags, indicating if swimming is safe.
- Do NOT touch jellyfish, even if they look dead.
- Use special sun protection creams that have jellyfish repellent in them.
Jellyfish Sting Treatment & Remedies
If a jellyfish stings, here are some guidelines and remedies:
- DO NOT to clean the area with fresh water, as it will spread the venom through the skin, increasing the affected area. Saline or sea water should be used instead.
- Apply something cold to the area for 15 minutes to reduce the swelling and pain. Never apply ice directly on the skin as it can burn it and also has the undesired side effect of washing the area with fresh water as the ice melts.
- DO NOT scratch the area as it will become further irritated.
- You can also apply vinegar to reduce the itching and pain, but this will only provide some relief and is not a remedy.
- Remove any left over tentacles with tweezers or gloves.
- A special cream that can be bought in pharmacies will need to be applied 4 times a day for a week to reduce the swelling and reduced scarring.
- If necessary seek trained first aid assistance to remove any possible tentacle left on the skin, apply antihistamines and analgesics.
- The major concern of jellyfish in Majorca is if a person is stung for a second time within a year, as they can suffer an anaphylactic shock. So if it is your second sting, seek medical attention immediately.
- If there is more than 1 sting, or if the person is allergic, the jellyfish poison can cause thoracic pain, muscle cramps and difficulty breathing. If this occurs get immediate medical assistance.
- The emergency number in Majorca is 112.
Mark Kaye is a travel writer and content creator living in Majorca, Spain. Originally from the UK, Mark moved to the island and quickly fell in love with Majorcan culture, food, and scenic landscapes. When he’s not busy writing detailed guides about Majorca’s top tourist attractions and hidden local gems, you can find him out exploring coastal trails or wandering the streets of Palma’s Old Town in search of his next great restaurant discovery.
