How to Treat Jellyfish Stings

The best way to treat jellyfish stings is to avoid them in the first place. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. Any time you get into waters where jellyfish can be, you run a risk of being stung. Jellyfish are often present in coaster waters and winds and current can bring then in to the shores. The sting of a jellyfish can be very painful to humans but there are some things you can do to treat them on your own.

The jellyfish sting causes immediate, intense pain and burning due to the venom in the stingers. Only a few types are lethal to humans but there are many types that can cause pain, discomfort and even allergic reaction. If no allergic reaction or infection is present, you might be able to treat the condition at home without needing emergency assistance.

If there is trouble breathing, signs of allergic reaction or the person stung was very old or very young, seek emergency help immediately.

To treat jellyfish stings:

Be sure to avoid all contact with the tentacles. - If the tentacles are still wrapped around the person, do not use your hands to remove them. Use a stick or other object so that you do not come in contact with the tentacles as well. Wear protective clothing and gloves if you have them for treating the injured person.

Remove the person from the water. -If the injured person is still in the water, be sure to remove them. Be cautious yourself, as where there is one jellyfish, there are usually many more.

Rinse the affected area. - Be sure to rinse the affected area with sea water and not with freshwater. Fresh water will activate the nematocysts (stingers) and make the condition (and the pain) worse.

Apply white vinegar to the affected area. - White vinegar (acetic acid 5%) will deactivate the nematocysts and decrease the symptoms from the jellyfish venom. If you have an after-sting spray such as the one made by Sea Safe, then you can apply this instead.

Keep the affected area still to minimize spreading the symptoms. -If the affected area was a foot or a leg, for example, have the person sit still and keep the leg still.

Use an over-the-counter pain reliever. - The pain and discomfort of a jellyfish sting can last from a few hours to a few days. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce the pain.

First aid for jellyfish stings:

If someone is stung by a jellyfish while you are with them, immediate first aid is very important. First, be sure the person is out of the water. Do not use fresh water to rinse the sting. If you are near a hotel room or home, you can use a blow dryer on high setting to dry out and deactivate the stingers of the jellyfish. Then you can use a credit card or safety razor to scrape them away to remove them. Call emergency help if the person shows signs of allergic reaction, breathing difficulties or intense swelling.

Sources:

Personal Experience

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