For a jellyfish sting, follow these first aid steps depending on the type of jellyfish and severity:
- Get out of the water to avoid further stings.
- Do not rub the sting area as it can worsen the damage.
- Remove any visible tentacles carefully with tweezers, gloved fingers, or a stick. Avoid using bare hands.
- Rinse the sting with vinegar for at least 30 seconds if available. Vinegar helps deactivate stinging cells, especially for tropical jellyfish like box jellyfish.
- If vinegar is unavailable, rinse with seawater—but never with freshwater as it can make stings worse.
- Apply heat by soaking the affected area in hot water (about 42°C to 45°C or 107°F to 115°F) for 20 to 40 minutes to reduce pain. Make sure the water is hot but not scalding.
- Do not apply ice or cold packs as heat is more effective for relieving pain.
- Apply antihistamine or steroid creams if needed to reduce itching and inflammation.
- Rest and monitor the casualty. If symptoms worsen or if the sting is from a box jellyfish or covers a large area, seek urgent medical help immediately.
- Call emergency services if you experience severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, chest pain, muscle spasms, widespread stings, or if the sting is in sensitive areas like the eyes or mouth.
These guidelines vary slightly depending on whether the sting is from tropical or non-tropical jellyfish, but vinegar and heat soak are generally recommended for the most dangerous stings such as box jellyfish.
If you want, I can provide more details about symptoms to watch for or how to identify dangerous jellyfish.
