Authorities Warn Florida Beachgoers Of Portuguese Man O' War Sting

Authorities in South Florida urged those who plan on heading to the beaches to be on alert for the stinging Portuguese man o' war, a marine creature that looks like a jellyfish.

Beachgoers were strictly advised against touching the creature even if it is not in the water as its stingers remain active.

While it may be eye-catching because of the balloon-like appearance and bright purple-blue color, the Portuguese man o' war can actually deliver a rather painful sting.

"Keep an eye out for Portuguese man o' war! Beachgoers should avoid stepping or touching this animal," Miami-Dare Fire Rescue noted in a tweet. "The sting of a Portuguese man o' war can cause welts, swelling, and/or a rash. If stung, advise a lifeguard or seek first-aid treatment."

Only recently, for instance, Miami native Leanne Martinez went to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park with friends and children, and had a painful encounter with the Portuguese man o' war, reported NBC Miami.

"I didn't take the warning that seriously," Martinez said, as per the outlet. "I thought the Portuguese man-of-war sting would be similar to a jellyfish and if we went in the water, we would be able to see them and stay away."

Before Martinez had even realized it was around, the creature's long tentacles were wrapped around her arm. "The pain was so strong, I thought I would pass out. I would rate the pain close to giving birth," she said to the outlet, which shared photos of the stings on her arm and hand.

Although the Portuguese man o' war may look like a jellyfish, it isn't one, but the two are closely related. The jellyfish-like creature is actually a species of siphonophore, a group of animals that form a colony of genetically identical individuals working together as one unit.

The tentacles in a Portuguese man o' war can grow an average of 30 feet and are armed with stinging nematocysts that can deliver venom, which can paralyze and kill small fish.

They are found in all oceans except the Arctic and often wash up on Florida's shores, noted the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Although they are rarely deadly to people, the Portuguese man o' war can cause painful welts on the skin. Furthermore, it's worth noting that the tentacles can sting even if the colony is dead and had been washed ashore for weeks. In fact, even a severed tentacle that's been washed up on the beach can still sting, according to the Florida Museum.

As a first aid treatment, people may use a vinegar rinse to "inactivate" the stinging cells, however, consulting the concerned medical professional is advised.