Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources (DMWR) has recently received reports from the general public that Portuguese Man-of-War jellyfish have been spotted on certain beaches — Coconut Point and Pala Lagoon.

These jellyfish can be extremely dangerous due to their painful and potentially harmful stings.

Appearance: The Man-o-War has a distinctive appearance with a translucent, blue, purple, or pink gas-filled float, which can be seen bobbing on the surface of the water. The float can be up to 12 inches long and 5 inches wide. Below the float, long tentacles can extend up to 30 feet inlength.

 DMWR advises the following precautions be taken:

1.    Avoid places that have recently reported Portuguese Man-of-War sightings.

2.    Before swimming, look around to ensure there is no presence of Portuguese Man-of-War.

3.    Wear proper gear, especially long sleeves, to minimize the risk of being stung.

And, if you do get stung the following actions are advised:

1.    RINSE the affected area with VINEGAR.

2.    REMOVE any stingers or pieces of tentacles on the skin WITH TWEEZERS.

3.    APPLY HEAT by immersing the area in hot water or applying a hot pack for 45 minutes.

4.    Call 911 or head to the ER if there are any symptoms of an allergic reaction!

Reactions can be immediate or delayed, so be sure to monitor.

The public is further advised to take extra precautions when visiting beaches.

Please avoid touching the jellyfish, even if they appear to be dead, as their tentacles can still sting. If stung, seek medical attention immediately.

If you have spotted a Man-of-War jellyfish in your village waters or on the beach, please report it to DMWR by calling 633-4456 and ask for Maria Vaofanua, or by emailing her at maria.vaofanua@dmwr.as.gov.

DMWR hopes the community will stay safe by taking the necessary precautions.