Yogyakarta Warns Swimmers of Jellyfish Stings at Parangtritis Beach
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3 July 2023 13:36 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - The air temperature in Yogyakarta, including the South Coast region, is getting colder than usual as the dry season is coming. The wind blows during the afternoon until the evening could be bitterly cold.
Other than cold weather, Yogyakarta warned swimmers of jellyfish. The presence of the marine creature increases and a number of tourists have reportedly been stung this weekend. One of the places where jellyfish appear is Parangtritis Beach, Bantul.
“Tourists get stung by jellyfish in the past three days. Today, there are 15 people who are stung,” the Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinator of the Parangtritis Beach Community Protection Unit (Satlinmas) III, Arif Nugraha, said on Sunday, July 2, 2023.
Arif added that even though the sting is not too dangerous, it causes instant pain, especially in children. The jellyfish sting causes burning, itchiness, and inflamed marks on the skin.
“The majority of those who get stung are children, maybe it’s because jellyfish looks like a bluish-white bubble that makes them curious and they don't realize they are actually holding it, making it a toy,” Arif said.
This incident is quite common when the dry season arrives and usually peaks in August or before entering the rainy season.
“The jellyfish sting medicine has been prepared by the officers. We have also prepared oxygen cylinders because sometimes tourists feel shortness of breath due to the sting,” he explained.
Arif added that no tourists have been rushed to a health facility due to jellyfish stings until now thus far. The topical medicine or ointment formulated by the SAR team, which is usually made of cayenne pepper, oil, and ginger, and is pounded like mud, is enough to treat the sting.
“Tourists, especially parents, are expected to look after and remind their children to avoid and not touch jellyfish which are usually on the beach,” he said.
The SAR team also deploys officers to monitor the beach area and warn tourists via loudspeakers.
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