Well known to most Australians who live near the coast, the Portuguese man-o-war often turns up during the summer months in shallow, inshore waters; groups of thousands have been observed floating off popular surfing beaches. When an inshore wind suddenly brings them into a crowd of surfers, there is a mass exodus from the water.
  The Portuguese man-o-war, Physalia physalis commonly called blue-bottle in Australia, belongs to a group of invertebrate, jelly-like, marine animals noted for their ability to float and sting. They are widely distributed throughout the warmer seas of the world and in Australia range right around the coastline including Tasmania.

          Translucent blue float

    The bluebottle gets its name from its body which consists of a gas-filled, bladder-like blue float. It may be as long as 30 centimetres and extend 15 centimetres above the water. The float has a crest which is used as a sail to propel the blue-bottle across the surface of the water. Beneath the float are clusters of polyps from which  hang  long  tentacles  which  bear nematocysts or stinging cells capable of paralysing small fish and other prey. The tentacles may be drawn up or extended over fairly long distances in their search for food and the stinging cells are capable of killing fishes up to 10 centimetres long.
    The blue-bottle poison, like that of other jellyfish poisons is believed to be a labile protein. In experiments conducted on animals it caused failure of breathing and muscle weakness and the long tentacle which may grow to 10 metres is responsible for most of the stings.

 Severe pain
    Humans stung by a blue-bottle experience a sharp, severe pain and attempts to remove the tentacle may increase the number of stings. Single or multiple weals of different sizes will appear on the skin and occasionally they occur in a  can zigzag pattern when the tentacle attaches itself to the skin at certain points.
    The sting of a blue-bottle can also cause a number of serious side effects including fever, shock and interference with heart and lung action. However, no known death has been reported.
    The severe pain lasts about one to two hours. Where the victim has been extensively stung, the pain tends to spread sideways to involve surrounding joints, in the case of a limb, and may move around the trunk if the body has been stung. Severe pain may also occur in the lymph nodes when the venom reaches them.
    In some cases, bleeding occurs at the site of the sting and occasionally ulcers and permanent scarring may result. There is also danger of serious damage to the corneaof the eye if the tentacles come into contact with the eye.

            Pour on vinegar

    As with all bites and stings, the victim should re receive first aid immediately. Vinegar should be poured over the afflicted area and any adhering tentacles as soon as possible. Methylated spirit can also be used but vinegar has been found to be less painful to the victim. No attempt should be made to remove the tentacles before they have been inactivated by the vinegar.
    Do no rub the sting or apply sand to the area Any attempt to remove the tentacles should b carried out with a towel or other heavy cloth. An anaesthetic cream can then be applied to th affected area.
    Usually the pain subsides within seven hours However, if the reaction is severe the victin should be taken to a doctor or hospital and powerful pain-killers may be required; some persons have been known to develop severe allergic  reactions to a blue-bottle sting.
    Fortunately, most patrolled surfing beaches are well acquainted with blue-bottle victims and have first aid equipment within easy reach. #