Jellyfish Stings
I’m a Friends fanatic. If I have a minute to spare during the day, it’s the first thing I gravitate to on the TV. I just love it! And one of my all-time favorite episodes is The One with the Jellyfish. Not because it’s the episode where Ross and Rachel get back together, but because of the jellyfish scene. It’s hilarious and puts me in stitches every single time.
Here’s a brief recap of how the scene goes…The gang is back in NYC and Ross suggests they make the beach trip an annual thing since they all had so much fun. Chandler, Joey, and Monica in unison immediately yell NO. The three of them are then forced to confess what happened on the beach. Monica was stung by a jellyfish and Joey, who is not known for his brain power, remembers something he saw on the Discovery Channel about jellyfish and how peeing on the sting will stop the pain. The gang gets grossed out by the idea of Monica peeing on herself but she admits that she “couldn’t bend that way”. Everyone assumes that Joey was up next for the task, which he was, but says he got stage fright. Chandler then sadly admits that he was the one who peed on her and he still has nightmares about it when he hears Joey screaming. The moral of the story is that a good friend will pee on you if you get a jellyfish sting.
Hilariously, this scene almost came to life for me about a decade ago. Looking back it became apparent that this episode formed the base of all my and my girlfriend’s knowledge on how to handle a jellyfish sting. Several of us were all out for a swim off our friend’s boat when one of us came out crying after getting stung. When ice, cold water, and filling her with more alcohol didn’t ease the pain, the offer of pee was placed on the table. Thankfully, level heads prevailed (not everyone had been drinking) and no urine was used in the treatment of her sting.
But this does bring up a good point - What should you do if you get stung by a jellyfish?
I’ll give you a clue…it does not involve pee in any way. In fact, according to researchers, the compounds found in urine can actually make the sting worse by aggravating the stinging cells still on your skin. So now, not only do you smell like pee but you’re also in more pain. Ick! You’re a good friend for offering (you know who you are!), but in this case, please keep your pants on and reach for a jar of vinegar instead.
What Does a Jellyfish Sting Look Like?
Luckily, most jellyfish stings don’t require a trip to a medical clinic for treatment. They can be quite painful but it’s not an emergency.
A jellyfish sting can cause:
Pain
Redness
Minor Swelling
Itching
Numbness and tingling
While most jellyfish stings are a temporary inconvenience, a sting from a box jellyfish will need medical care. These stings are dangerous and can be deadly if not handled quickly. There are over 50 different kinds of box jellyfish but only a few species are deadly. The lethal ones are most commonly found in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, Indonesia, and around Australia.
How to Treat a Jellyfish Sting
Box jellyfish aside, when you’re stung by a jellyfish, the tentacles of the jelly leave behind thousands of tiny stinger cells called nematocysts. Nematocysts continue to release the jellyfish venom into your skin overtime. This is how they kill or stun its prey.
Rinse the area with vinegar. This is the first thing you should do. Vinegar helps to neutralize the stinging cells and keeps them from releasing more venom. If you don’t have vinegar handy (I know I don’t often carry vinegar to the beach), rinse with salt water instead. Don’t use fresh water (bottled water) as this can actually make the stingers shoot off more venom.
Don’t rub the area or try to get the stingers off. This can aggravate them more. If there are still tentacles wrapped around the area, use tweezers or some other device to assist in moving them off the skin.
Take a hot (not scalding) shower or soak the area. This can help with the pain.
Take oral pain relievers. Tylenol or Motrin depending on what you can take or have on hand.
Use a topical corticosteroid to help with itching and redness if needed. Hydrocortisone cream/ointment is available over-the-counter at any pharmacy.
When Should I Call for Help with a Jellyfish Sting?
Sometimes extra or emergency care is needed so it’s important to know when to call for help. If any of the following occur, call emergency services right away:
The person stung stops breathing or is having an allergic reaction to the sting (swollen lips, tongue, or face)
Nausea, vomiting, or headache
The sting is on or near the eyes or mouth
Uncontrollable muscle spasms
The sting covers a large part of the body
The sting is from a box jellyfish or other dangerous jellyfish
If you’re stung and you just generally feel unwell or are concerned, err on the side of caution and see a doctor. It’s better to feel safe and well cared for than not.
How to Avoid a Jellyfish Sting
There’s really no fool-proof way to avoid a jellyfish sting other than staying out of the water. Since that’s not an option for us intrepid sailors, here are a few tips to help keep you safe while exploring.
Seek local knowledge. Whether it’s a lifeguard on duty at a beach or local spear fishers or fishermen, they’ll have the best insight of what’s in the area and where it might be safer to swim and dive.
Wear a wet suit when snorkeling and diving. A full-body wet suit will give you the most protection, but any wet suit is better than none.
Know what species of jellyfish are common in the areas you’ll be traveling. And if you see any in the water, try swimming elsewhere.
Some jellyfish have tentacles that are several feet long. This means they can sting you even if you’re nowhere near its body.
Carry a small bottle of vinegar and tweezers with you so you can remove tentacles and neutralize the stingers fast.