Tips on how to deal with Jellyfish – the Cote d’Azur’s biggest peril

The Cote d’Azur is a traveller’s paradise.

With its mighty rivers making their way to the Mediterranean Ocean that laps its beautiful and varied shoreline, its metropolitan cities, rich in culture and history, and some of the best cuisine in the world, the Cote d’Azur certainly is a remarkable and utopic region.

There is however one less favourable feature of the French Riviera, which visitors to the area should be aware of – jellyfish. Here, we outline the best tips on how to deal with Jellyfish on the Cote d’Azur.

In response to the high number of jellyfish living in the waters on the Cote d’Azur, local councils have set up jelly-fish free zones to help protect bathers from being stung.

If you are wanting to spend a day on the beach on the French Riviera but are put off by the jellyfish then check the colour of the flag on the beach – A orange flag usually denotes jellyfish have been detected there, whilst a green flag usually means it is a jellyfish-free zone.

It is also important to remember that jellyfish look lifeless and dead when they have been washed up on the shore, although they can still sting out of water so avoid going near them and tell children to stay away from any lifeless jellyfish on the beach.

Certain jellyfish are more dangerous than others. The most common breed of jellyfish in the Mediterranean is the ‘mauve stinger’, which are usually mauve in colour but can also be pink, tan or yellow.

If you are stung by a jellyfish avoid washing the sting with fresh water and only use salt water, as this will help clean the affected area and alleviate the pain.

Freezing spray is also an effective relief from jellyfish stings and is something you can buy from a local pharmacy.