Lifeguards warn of Portuguese man o' war on Brevard County beaches

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Purple flags are flying on Brevard County beaches Tuesday, warning of the arrival of the Portuguese man o' war, which could deliver a painful sting similar to that of a wasp.

Brevard County Ocean Rescue crews said they have treated 66 stings.

Lifeguards expect the man o' war to dot Brevard County beaches for the next few days.

Lifeguards said they have seen the largest concentrations of them along Cocoa Beach.

Man o' war are a colony of organisms with venomous tentacles.

Brevard County Ocean Rescue said beachgoers should avoid them, and that even days after it washes ashore it can sting.

A sting over the weekend sent a 2-year-old to the hospital after an allergic reaction.

“We'd rather it wouldn't be washed up on the beach and in the water. If they're on the beach, that means there are some on the water also. We'd rather they wouldn't be here, but we understand that's part of nature,” said beach visitor Gary Grove.

Lifeguards are equipped to treat the stings. If someone is stung, they need to remove the tentacles, but not by hand. Officials said it’s best to scrape them away with something like a credit card and wash the area with sea water.

Cox Media Group