When it comes to jellyfish stings, the good news is that they are rarely fatal; the bad news is that when they sting, these marine animals release hundreds of tiny stings (nematocysts) which attach to the skin and excrete a poisonous substance. This poison almost always causes mild discomfort or a painful rash. In rare cases, however, it can cause systemic disease. If you or someone you know has had the misfortune to come across a jellyfish stinging you, quick and decisive action can help.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: What to Do in the Immediate
Step 1. Know when to call emergency services and seek immediate help
Most jellyfish stings do not require medical intervention. However, if you or someone else find yourself in the situation described below, seek immediate medical attention:
- The puncture affects more than half of an arm, leg, a large part of the chest, or the face or genitals;
- The sting causes a severe allergic reaction which includes, but is not limited to, difficulty in breathing, dizziness or slight dizziness, nausea or palpitations;
- The sting was caused by a Cubozoa (also called cubomedusa). It is an extremely poisonous species found mainly off the coast of Australia, in other parts of the Indo-Pacific and in Hawaii. This animal is light blue in color and has a cubic "head". It can grow up to two meters in length.
Step 2. Get out of the water as calmly as possible
To avoid the risk of being repeatedly stung by the jellyfish and to undergo treatment, get out of the water as soon as you feel the pain.
In the meantime, try not to scratch the injury site or touch it with your hands. It is likely that some tentacles have remained attached to the skin; scratching and touching them only makes the situation worse
Step 3. Rinse the sting with seawater
As soon as you get out of the water, rinse the sting area with salt (not fresh) water to wash away any residue or tentacles still attached.
Do not scrub the area with a towel after rinsing; this could make the situation worse
Step 4. Wet the tentacles with plenty of vinegar for at least 30 seconds
It has been shown that this substance is able to deactivate the cells responsible for the sting of different species of jellyfish, rendering the tentacles harmless. This is the first treatment recommended by the health authorities.
Some types of stings may respond better to a combination of salt water and baking soda
Part 2 of 4: Remove the Medusa Tentacles from the Skin
Step 1. Carefully scrape off the remaining tentacles
Once you've rinsed the affected area, scrape off the debris with a plastic object, such as the edge of a credit card.
- Do not try to rub or scrape the tentacles, as this activates the nematocysts even more.
- Remain absolutely still as you detach the tentacles. If you are in shock, make sure someone calls the ambulance and try to calm down as much as possible. The more you move to remove them, the more poison is injected into the skin.
- If you are in shock, make sure someone has called emergency services and try to calm down as much as possible.
Step 2. Discard any materials that have come into contact with the jellyfish's tentacles
Eliminate the chances of accidentally getting stung again.
Step 3. Use heat to manage pain
Once you've gotten rid of the nematocysts, relieve the pain by soaking the area in warm (not hot!) Water. Keep the water temperature between 40 and 45 ° C to avoid burns. Some studies have found that heat inhibits poison toxins, relieving pain more effectively than ice packs.
Step 4. Treat the pain with pain relievers
If the pain is unbearable, take the recommended dose of pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. The latter can also reduce the inflammation associated with the sting.
Part 3 of 4: Avoiding the Most Common Mistakes
Step 1. Do not try to treat the sting with urine
The belief that this is a good solution probably originates from an old rumor and has been strengthened even more after an episode of the show Friends, in which it was used to achieve a comic effect. There is no need to pee on the limb stung by a jellyfish!
Step 2. Avoid applying fresh water to the area
Almost all jellyfish are sea creatures; this means that nematocysts have a high concentration of salt water. Any jump in salinity causes these cells to activate. Fresh water triggers this reaction and you must therefore only use sea water.
Step 3. Do not apply an enzymatic product to soften the meat in order to deactivate the poisonous cells
There is no research showing its effectiveness and it could cause more harm than good.
Step 4. Know that direct application of alcohol to the skin could be counterproductive
Just like fresh water, alcohol activates nematocysts which release larger amounts of poison, thus causing even more pain.
Part 4 of 4: Treating the Pain and Continuing Treatment
Step 1. Clean and bandage any open wounds
After removing the tentacles and relieving most of the pain, clean the area with warm water. At this point, it does not need to be salt water, because the nematocysts that react with the fresh water have been removed. If the skin is visibly irritated or inflamed, gently cover it with gauze and bandage it with a bandage.
Step 2. Keep the affected area clean
Wash the area three times a day using warm water and apply an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin. Afterward, cover the wound with gauze and a bandage.
Step 3. Take topical and oral antihistamines to help relieve itching and skin irritation symptoms
Try to soothe any skin discomfort with over-the-counter antihistamine tablets or ointments that contain calamine or diphenhydramine.
Step 4. Give the pain 24 hours to subside and several days for the irritation to subside
After 5 to 10 minutes of treatment, the pain should begin to subside. After a day it should be almost completely gone. If you are still in pain after 24 hours and you haven't already seen a doctor, go to the emergency room.
- In rare cases, jellyfish stings can cause infection or scarring; however, most of those affected do not show these consequences even after suffering very painful bites.
- In extreme cases, people experience hypersensitivity to the venom a week or several weeks after the accident. Blisters or other signs of irritation form on the skin, which can also turn bluish. Although hypersensitivity is not typically dangerous, it is worth referring the problem to a doctor or dermatologist.
Advice
- If there are lifeguards, ask for their help. Beach guards are likely to have experience with these kinds of accidents; they have at their disposal the necessary materials and skills for a quick and effective intervention.
- The victim often does not see the animal responsible for the sting. If symptoms persist or worsen, go to the emergency room after an accident with a sea creature.
- Depending on the type of jellyfish that stung you and the severity of the injury, different treatments can be implemented. If the animal responsible is a cubomedusa, it is necessary to administer an antidote to neutralize the toxins. If the puncture causes heart failure, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and an injection of epinephrine should be done.
Warnings
- Do not leave the meat enzyme on the skin for more than 15 minutes.
- Always avoid rubbing the tentacles, as it will cause more pain; instead try to peel them off or scratch them off with extreme care.
- Do not apply any of these solutions in or around the eyes. Dip a clean cloth in the solution and blot the area.
