Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

The good news is that jellyfish stings are rarely life-threatening. The bad news is that jellyfish will release thousands of tiny thorns that are plugged into the victim's skin while burning and releasing venom. Usually, the jellyfish's venom causes mild discomfort or redness and pain. In rare cases, jellyfish venom can cause systemic illness. If you or someone else gets stung by a jellyfish, it's helpful to act quickly and decisively.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Instant processing steps

1. 

   Know when to call an emergency and seek medical attention. Most jellyfish stings do not require medical intervention. However, Seek immediate medical attention if you or someone else falls into the following situations:
   • The sting takes up more than half an arm, half a leg, a large area on the upper body, or a sting on the face or genitals.
   • The sting causes a serious allergic reaction, including (but not limited to) symptoms such as difficulty breathing, dizziness or lightheadedness, nausea, or a fast heartbeat.
   • The sting is from a box jellyfish. The jellyfish's venom is extremely strong. This jellyfish is found on the coast of Australia and parts of the Indo-Pacific and Hawaii. The box jellyfish is light blue in color and has a square head, or "medusa snake-haired god head." They can reach approximately 2 meters in length.

2. 

   
   
   Very calmly leave the water. To avoid further burns and initiate treatment, find a way to get ashore immediately after being burned.
   • When you get out of the water, try not to scratch the burned area.It is possible that the jellyfish tentacles are still attached to your skin, and you may burn more if you scratch them or touch them.
3. Wash the sting with seawater. As soon as you get out of the water, use seawater to wash the affected areas of the jellyfish's skin (do not use fresh water) to wash away any tentacles that are still attached to the skin or the inflamed tissues.
   • Do not scrub the affected area with a washcloth after washing it, as this may trigger the remaining stains.

4. 

   
   
   Apply plenty of vinegar to the tentacles for at least 30 seconds. For maximum effect, you can mix vinegar with hot water. This is the most effective first aid method for stings on many jellyfish. Make sure the water is not hot enough to burn your skin.
   • Stings from some jellyfish species respond better when treated with a combination of salt water and baking soda.
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Part 2 of 4: Removing jellyfish tentacles from the skin

1. 

   
   
   Carefully scrape off the remaining tentacles. After you wash the sting, scrape off the remaining tentacles with a plastic object, such as a credit card.
   • Do not rub cloth or towel over the sting to try to get rid of the tentacle, as this will cause more and more stinging cells to continue to release the venom.
   • Try to stay still when removing the tentacles. The more you move while removing the tentacle, the more venom will release.
   • If you experience shock, ask someone to call an ambulance right away, and try to stay as calm as possible.

2. 

   Dispose of all materials that come in contact with the jellyfish sting. You need to minimize the risk of accidentally being stung again. Throw out any items that may still have stinging cells, such as items you used to scrape tentacles, or clothing that may still have tentacles.
3. Relieve pain with heat. Once the tentacles have been removed, you can relieve the pain by soaking the burned skin in hot water (but not too hot!). The temperature should be only 40-45 ° C to avoid burns. Research has shown that heat can deactivate the venom and relieve pain better than ice.

4. 

   Treat pain with pain relievers. If the pain is severe, you can take the recommended dosage of pain relievers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Ibuprofen may also reduce the inflammation caused by the sting. advertisement

Part 3 of 4: Avoid common mistakes

1. 

   Do not use urine to treat jellyfish stings. The idea of ​​using urine to treat jellyfish stings probably stems from the oral folklore and became more popular after the series. Friends use this episode to laugh. There's no reason to urinate on a jellyfish sting!

2. 

   Avoid washing the jellyfish sting with fresh water. Most cases of jellyfish sting have occurred in seawater. This means that the nematocysts (filling cells) contain a large amount of salt water. Any changes in the salinity in the nematocysts cause the stinging cells to release the venom. Instead, use salt water to wash it.

3. 

   Do not use meat tenderizer to inactivate poisonous stinger. There's no research showing that this actually works, and it could be even more harmful than good.

4. 

   Know that applying alcohol directly to the skin can be counterproductive. Just like washing soft drinks, alcohol can cause the nematocysts to release more venom and cause more pain. advertisement

Part 4 of 4: Reduce discomfort and next steps

1. 

   Clean and bandage open sores. After removing tentacles and relieving pain, clean the burned skin with warm water. (Seawater is not needed, as the nematocysts - the cells that react with the fresh water - have been removed.) If the skin is still irritated or bleeding, apply gauze and a gentle bandage.
2. Keep the wound clean. Wash the wound with hot water and apply an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin 3 times a day, then cover the wound with a bandage and gauze.

3. 

   Use oral or topical antihistamines to relieve itching and irritation. You can soothe irritated areas with an over-the-counter oral antihistamine or a cream with diphenhydramine or calamine cream.

4. 

   Wait a day for the symptoms to subside, and several days for the irritation to go away. Pain will subside 5-10 minutes after taking the medicine and most of it will be after a day. If the day goes on and the pain continues, see your doctor for treatment.
   • In rare cases, jellyfish stings can cause infection or scarring, but most people avoid this, even with very serious stings.
   • In rare cases, venom hypersensitivity can occur for a week or weeks after being stung. Blisters or other skin irritation can come on suddenly. Although anaphylaxis is generally not dangerous, it is better to see a general practitioner or dermatologist for treatment.
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Advice

• Call the beach lifeguard. Lifeguards are experienced in handling jellyfish stings and have the facilities and skills necessary to treat jellyfish stings quickly and effectively.
• Sometimes the victim does not see a creature that has burned himself. If symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical attention after being stung by a marine organism.
• Treatment will depend on the type of jellyfish and the severity of the sting. In the event of a jellyfish sting, the victim will be treated with antivenom to detox. If the sting causes a loss of heart function, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and epinephrine will be given.

Warning

• Do not apply any of the above solutions around the eyes. Dip a clean cloth or towel in the solution and dab around your eyes.
• Do not leave the meat tenderizer on for more than 15 minutes.
• Never rub to remove tentacles, as this will cause additional pain. Instead, pull or scrape the tentacles out of the skin.