Vinegar inactivates the jelly's nematocysts so they can't fire, which means they won't be able to hurt you any worse. Once you treat the injury with vinegar, you'll still have to remove the stingers with tweezers.
Vinegar is used to stop the venom in stingers. Caution: Do not use ammonia, urine, rubbing alcohol, fresh water or ice. They all can trigger the release of more venom. If you don't have vinegar, move on to scraping off the stingers.
1. Vinegar. Why it helps: Wasp stings are less acidic as bee stings and have more of an alkalinity. Therefore, the acidity of the vinegar helps neutralize the alkalinity of the sting.
There's No Perfect Cure
Vinegar (5% acetic acid) has been shown to be the best rinse for box jellyfish. It neutralizes unfired nematocysts so they can't inject venom.
Often, it's best to rinse a sting with vinegar. Vinegar is a weak acid that might keep the stingers from firing for some kinds of stings (especially from dangerous types like box jellyfish). Do not rinse with fresh water (like tap or bottled water) because that can make more stingers fire.
Pour vinegar on the jellyfish stings for 30 seconds. This stops any tentacles (nematocysts) that haven't already fired venom from firing. If vinegar is not available, wash the stings with sea water.
Be careful around jellies washed up on the sand as some still sting if their tentacles are wet. Tentacles torn off a jellyfish can sting, too. If you are stung, don't rinse with water, which could release more poison. Lifeguards usually give first aid for stings.
Use water that's 110 to 113 F (43 to 45 C). It should feel hot, not scalding. Keep the affected skin immersed or in a hot shower until the pain eases, which might be 20 to 45 minutes. Apply 0.5% to 1% hydrocortisone cream or ointment twice a day to the affected skin.
Soothe a jellyfish sting
The exact healing capabilities of Coca-Cola on jellyfish stings remains a topic of debate but according to an Australian study from 1993, Coca-Cola reduced the pain and the reaction to a sting between 25 to 75 percent.
Apply as much vinegar as possible to the affected area for at least 30 seconds. This prevents the stinging cells from releasing venom into the skin. Most tropical Australian beaches have vinegar along the beach in case of jellyfish stings.
There is good evidence immersing someone in hot water works when treating bluebottle stings. Hot water inactivates the jellyfish toxins and so stops the pain; it is effective in about 90% of cases after 20 minutes.
Irukandji jellyfish's stings are so severe they can cause fatal brain hemorrhages and on average send 50-100 people to the hospital annually. Robert Drewe describes the sting as "100 times as potent as that of a cobra and 1,000 times stronger than a tarantula's".
Put WINDEX on ice & take it to the beach (does not help if you leave it at home or back in the car) Spray down affected area -it"ll take the sting right out!"
Wear protective clothing. Covering skin with tight clothing and covering exposed areas (such as lips and face) with petroleum jelly will prevent many stings.
If vinegar is not available, the sting site can be washed with ocean water. Protect the affected area and do NOT rub sand or apply any pressure to the area or scrape the sting site.
What should you do if a jellyfish stings you? Scientists have found that applying vinegar is the best solution, and that popular remedies including urine, lemon juice, and shaving foam could make the situation worse.
However, in the event you do come in contact with a jellyfish and are stung, we recommend you help diminish the pain by treating the affected area with ammonia poured over the skin or simply apply meat tenderizer or toothpaste.
Back in 1997 all the friends from that eponymous television show trekked to the beach, only to witness a jellyfish sting Monica. In this episode, Joey remembered seeing a documentary that advised urinating on the sting to ease the pain. Monica agreed to try the treatment and it worked.
Apply vitamin E or aloe vera juice to heal tissue and reduce inflammation.
Most jellyfish stings get better over a few days or weeks with home treatment. Severe reactions likely need emergency medical care.
As soon as the jellyfish is dropped on the beach by the retreating tide, the jellyfish begins to die. A jellyfish breathes by taking in oxygen from the seawater through its skin so as soon as it is on dry land it can no longer live.
Dead jellyfish still have venom in their tentacles that can sting on contact.
It may actually make it worse. That's because pouring freshwater—including urine—on the area will change the composition of the solution surrounding the remaining cells and may actually trigger the release of more nematocysts and venom. Instead, experts suggest rinsing the area with saltwater to help reduce discomfort.
Introduction. The Bluebottle, Physalia physalis, is a common, if unwelcome, summer visitor to Sydney beaches. At the mercy of the wind, they are sometimes blown into shallow waters, and often wash up onto the beach.
Covering up with a long-sleeved swimsuit is a good idea if you plan to swim near viciously stinging jellyfish like lion's mane. Similarly, swim leggings will cover your legs but not interfere with swimming.