On a recent trip to Bermuda, I saw the following warning sign as I walked down to one of the country’s many beautiful beaches:
The warning reads: Beware Portuguese Man of War. Purple bubble floating on surface with long (up to 8 ft) dark purple tentacles. Capable of very nasty sting. Avoid in water and on beach. If stung contact front desk on extension #282.
Whilst I was appreciative of the warning, I question whether someone just stung by such a dangerous creature would really benefit from dialling #282.
#282 isn’t a complex number, but if you’re in an emergency, perhaps something a little easier to recall and dial would be in order?
Also, can you imagine the stress this induces for the attendants at the front desk?
The phone rings…you pick it up, and in the next ten seconds you could either hear:
(1) A guest calmly requesting a wake up call the following morning at 8AM so they can catch a flight.
OR,
(2) HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!!!! I’m Stung!!! It burns…it burns…it hurts so bad…..hellllllp!
Every time that phone ring you’d have to be on edge!
Never having been stung by a Portuguese Man of War … or by any nationality of Man of War … or by anything Portuguese for that matter … but I digress.
Is it even possible to drag oneself out of the water to a phone having been stung?
And yet another reason I moved away from Florida!