To treat a jellyfish sting, follow these expert-recommended steps:
- Get out of the water immediately to avoid further stings and to safely administer first aid
- Remove any visible tentacles carefully using fine tweezers or by hand with gloves if available. Do not scrape the skin or rub the area, as this can worsen the sting
- Rinse the affected area with vinegar (household vinegar) for at least 30 seconds if the sting is from most jellyfish types, especially dangerous ones like box jellyfish. Vinegar neutralizes the stinging cells (nematocysts) and prevents them from firing more venom. If vinegar is not available, rinse with seawater, not fresh water, as fresh water can trigger more venom release
- For some jellyfish like the bluebottle, vinegar may increase pain, so rinsing with seawater and removing tentacles is preferred
- Soak or shower the affected area in hot water (between 110°F to 113°F / 43°C to 45°C) for 20 to 45 minutes. The water should be hot but not scalding. This helps reduce pain by deactivating toxins
- After soaking, apply hydrocortisone cream (0.5% to 1%) or use oral antihistamines to relieve itching and swelling. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also help manage discomfort
- Avoid unproven or harmful treatments such as rinsing with urine or fresh water, applying alcohol, ammonia, meat tenderizer, or using pressure bandages or scraping the skin
- Seek immediate medical care if the sting causes severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of lips or tongue, severe pain, nausea, dizziness, muscle spasms, or if the sting covers a large area, involves the eye or mouth, or is from a highly venomous jellyfish like the box jellyfish
- For stings near or in the eye, rinse with seawater and go to the emergency room promptly for specialized care
In summary, the key treatments are careful tentacle removal, vinegar rinse (except for some jellyfish like bluebottle), hot water immersion for pain relief, and topical or oral medications for itching and swelling. Immediate medical attention is critical for severe reactions or dangerous jellyfish stings
