By all accounts, jellyfish have blanketed the Chesapeake region’s waterways this summer—and according to Salisbury television station WBOC, the majority of the more than 3,000 first-aid calls to Ocean City Beach Patrol last week were about stings. Ouch! In the interest of safety—and of better understanding why our invertebrate friends have seemingly decided, despite lacking brains, to become our new vacation overlords—Washingtonian talked to a jellyfish expert. Here’s everything you need to know before a late summer beach trip: Why Are the Jellyfish Thriving? The Chesapeake region is home to two species of jellies, both of which are actually nettles. Off the coast there are Sea Nettles, which tend to be larger. The species likely causing swimmers the most grief are the more populous Bay Nettles, according to Smithsonian jellyfish expert William ‘Monty’ Graham.  A spokesperson from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said it doesn’t track the jellyfish population, but beachfront parks do advise visitors that jellyfish are typically present in the late summer months. According to Graham, the drought conditions that the larger DC region experienced earlier this year likely resulted in the more numerous nettle population “There’s really good data that shows this relationship between salinity difference in the Chesapeake and jellyfish blooms,” Graham says.  In short: blame it on the (lack of) rain. How Can I Protect Myself? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has created a tool to predict the probable presence of sea nettles in a given waterway. When planning a beach getaway, consulting the probability calculator can help assess risk.  Related How to Keep Yourself Safe From Maryland’s Rabid Beavers Some beaches put up stinger nets to create protected swimming areas. Both North Beach and Breezy Point Beach in Maryland have nets set up for the summer. Dedicated swimmers can invest in lycra stinger suits for added protection. How Should I Handle a Sting? Graham says there are a few things to know. First, most stings will subside within a few hours. If a tentacle broke off on a sting, it should be removed with tweezers or lightly scraped off with a credit card.  According to Graham, there’s very little that can be done about the pain of a sting. Most meat tenderizers and similar remedies are placebos. However, you might be able to distract the body from pain by rubbing sand around the affected area. (Important caveat: Not on top! It’s famously bad to rub dirt into an open wound). One of the more popular myths about jellyfish stings is that they can be treated with chemicals and bodily fluids.  “I wouldn’t pee on it,” Graham says. “Unless you really don’t like the person.” He adds that different jellyfish toxins have varying reactions to chemicals, so pouring some on stings can actually make them worse.  Are We Entering the Jellyfish Epoch? Possibly! If drought conditions persist as a result of climate change, the region can expect large summer blooms to continue. However, Graham insists that you shouldn’t let jellyfish spoil your summer fun—just know how to avoid and protect against nettles. The post Here’s Why Jellyfish Are Blanketing Maryland’s Beaches—and How to Cope With Stings first appeared on Washingtonian. ...read more read less