Jellyfish Sting

When to Call for Jellyfish Sting

Care Advice for Jellyfish Sting

1. What You Should Know About Jellyfish Stings:
   • Jellyfish cause most of the stings that occur in the ocean.
   • Most stings are harmless. The pain is like a bee sting.
   • Jellies have long tentacles with lots of tiny stingers.
   • Pieces of tentacles that wash up on the beach can still cause stings.
   • They produce lines of redness and burning pain.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Step 1 - Sea Water Rinse to Remove Large Tentacles:
   • Rinse area with sea water. This will help remove any large tentacles stuck to the skin.
   • Do not rinse with fresh water (will trigger stingers).
   • Do not scrub or rub area (will trigger stingers).
   • Do this until you can get some vinegar.
3. Step 2 - Vinegar Rinse to Stop the Stinging: (Exception: Chesapeake Bay jellyfish - see #6)
   • Rinse area with vinegar (5% acetic acid) for 15 minutes.
   • Reason: Stops the stingers from stinging if still attached to the skin.
   • Caution: Do not use with Chesapeake Bay jellyfish. (Reason: May trigger stingers. Instead, use a baking soda rinse with these stings).
   • Avoid rubbing alcohol for all stings. Reason: will trigger the stingers.
   • If you can't get vinegar, move on to scraping off the stingers.
4. Step 3 - Scrape the Area to Remove Small Stingers:
   • Scrape off any stingers you can see. Use the edge of a credit card or dinner knife.
   • Do not use your bare fingers. (Reason: you will get stings on your hands). Put on gloves if you have them.
   • Then, coat area with shaving cream or any mild cream. Scrape the area again.
   • If the stingers are stuck to body hair, shave with a razor.
5. Step 4 - Repeat Vinegar Rinse: (Exception: Chesapeake Bay Jellyfish - go to #6)
   • Keep a cloth wet with vinegar on the area.
   • Do this for 15 more minutes.
6. Chesapeake Bay Jellyfish (Sea Nettle) - Baking Soda Rinse To Stop The Stinging:
   • Rinse area with a mixture of sea water and baking soda for 15 minutes.
   • This stops the stingers from stinging if still attached to the skin.
   • Then, remove small stingers with scraping or shaving.
   • Caution: Do not use vinegar rinse.
7. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
   • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
   • Use as needed.
8. Cold Pack for Pain:
   • For pain and swelling, rub with an ice cube. You can also use a cold wet washcloth. Do this for 10 minutes as needed.
   • Caution: Don't use until stingers are removed. (Reason: water or ice will trigger stingers).
9. Steroid Cream for Itching:
   • For itching or swelling, put 1% hydrocortisone cream (such as Cortaid) on the sting.
   • No prescription is needed.
   • Use 3 times per day.
   • Keep the cream in the fridge. (Reason: it feels better if put on cold).
10. What to Expect:
    • Minor stings: Severe burning pain will lessen within 1-2 hours. Red blotches and lines often improve in 24 hours. Red lines may last 1-2 weeks.
    • More severe stings: Blisters appear within 6 hours. You should be seen by a doctor if blisters appear.
11. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Blisters appear
    • Severe pain lasts over 2 hours
    • Redness or rash lasts over 2 weeks
    • You think your child needs to be seen
    • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.