Jellyfish Stings and What to do!

[justcruzinbye]

If stung (as I was while snorkeling in Puerto Vallarta):

 

Do NOT rub with towel or pour fresh water over site of sting!!

 

Use a credit card, stick, or other hard surface to scrape area, removing any tentacles still attached. Wash area with seawater, not fresh water.

 

If available, rub cut lemon or lime over area. This neutralizes the sting. Repeat as needed.

 

(We were on our way by boat to Yelapa. We treated the sting onboard the boat and proceeded on to Yelapa. At Rogelio's (restaurant) we were given lemons cut in half to rub on the site of the sting. I was able to finish my day before seeking medical attention.)

 

Of course...if you experience difficulty breathing or massive swelling, seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY.

[MrPete]

For Scyphozoa (true jellyfish; most common), I use ordinary sand, of which you should have an ample supply.

 

Pick up a handful and grind it into the affected area. It has sea water right in it!

 

 

Works wonders!

 

Or, you can use the Friends method.

[derf5585]

"OUCH! CURES FOR WHAT STINGS 'YA"

from

http://www.pbrla.com/swimsafety_jellyfishbites.html

 

(Being in Public Radio I like this one)

All Stings Considered

from

http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/alsting1.html

 

jellyfish are responsible for the most common human envenomations

from

http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic199.htm

[oceanfreaks]

Our daughter was stung in Jamaica on her birthday, and we were told to rub wet sand gently on the area. She was fine to go back into the water after 15 min or so. We were also told that urinating on it was the BEST thing....but didn't try that one!

[derf5585]

We were also told that urinating on it was the BEST thing....but didn't try that one!

 

If no vinegar is handy, then human urine will do

from

http://www.discoveringhawaii.com/SF_Medicine/StingingMarineLife/JellyFish.html

 

Urine is useless against pain from jellyfish sting

from

http://www.susanscott.net/OceanWatch1999/mar22-99.html

[glrounds]

Remember too, you can be stung by the tentacles on a beached jellyfish. :(

 

Every time I hear or read about jellyfish I can't help but be reminded of the Friends episode. Hilarious ! ! :D

[derf5585]

Every time I hear or read about jellyfish I can't help but be reminded of the Friends episode.

 

putting a dead jelly fish in his car.

from

http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/EpisodeGuideSummary/showid-1580/season-all

[DebBrown]

Every time I hear or read about jellyfish I can't help but be reminded of the Friends episode. Hilarious ! ! :D

I thought the same thing! What a great show that was. :)

[tinydancer21]

I thought the same thing! What a great show that was. :)

Me too! I watch that episode all the time it is SO funny! haha :D

[justcruzinbye]

For Scyphozoa (true jellyfish; most common), I use ordinary sand, of which you should have an ample supply.

Pick up a handful and grind it into the affected area. It has sea water right in it!

Works wonders!

Or, you can use the Friends method.

 

Never watched Friends, so don't know their method...

 

I was IN THE WATER and about two football fields from the shoreline when I got stung, so used the method I described above, as recommended by the captain of the boat. Three years later I still have scars on my arm and leg from that sting!

 

 

Mainly I wanted to stress.....DO NOT RUB WITH TOWEL. It just rubs the venom into the skin.

 

I can see where the "sand method" would work, too. Thanks for suggesting it...although I don't plan on any MORE jellyfish stings!

[tinydancer21]

Never watched Friends, so don't know their method...

 

I was IN THE WATER and about two football fields from the shoreline when I got stung, so used the method I described above, as recommended by the captain of the boat. Three years later I still have scars on my arm and leg from that sting!

 

 

Mainly I wanted to stress.....DO NOT RUB WITH TOWEL. It just rubs the venom into the skin.

 

I can see where the "sand method" would work, too. Thanks for suggesting it...although I don't plan on any MORE jellyfish stings!

On the Friends episode we are talking about Chandler had to pee on Monica after she was stung, it was a really funny episode.:D

[glrounds]

On the Friends episode we are talking about Chandler had to pee on Monica after she was stung, it was a really funny episode.:D

Yes, LOL.....this was, of course, after the "General" failed to perform for Joey . . . . . . .(Chandler had to step up to the plate, so to speak). :D

[KellyJean]

Remember too, you can be stung by the tentacles on a beached jellyfish. :(

 

I remember being on vacation with my family at Daytona Beach when I was a child (don't remember how young I was). I remember walking along the beach and spotting what looked like an ice cube on a blue string (okay, that might give you an idea of how little I was). I remember bee bopping along the beach wanting to go get a closer look because I couldn't understand why that ice cube didn't melt. I don't remember if I got up to it and stepped on it or what but next thing I know I was in terrible pain and went running back up to the motel room to my mother. I remember looking at my foot and seeing these big welts in a diagonal line across my foot. As a small child, I knew I was dying of course. I don't remember what my mom did for it but eventually the pain subsided and everything was okay.

 

Needless to say, I stay away from jelly fish if at all possible now!

[DreadPirateRobert]

I've used meat tenderizer and it works fairly quickly. I suppose the jellyfish venom is protein based and the tenderizer breaks down the proteins.

Whatever the reason is, it worked.

[derf5585]

On the Friends episode we are talking about Chandler had to pee on Monica after she was stung, it was a really funny episode.:D

 

(Episode 401- “The One With the Jellyfish)

Joey “You’re gonna have to pee on it.”

Monica “What?!! Gross!!”

from

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Picture/8521/quotes2.html