I am currently on summer vacations and I got stung by a jellyfish while swimming in the ocean. It wasn't very big. Is there any way to treat the burn? I'll take answers both for the instant you get stung or for afterards.
2007-02-25 06:18:55 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
You can rinse the area with ammonia or alcohol {yes, vodka or any other alcoholic beverage will do the trick if rubbing alcohol is not available}. Take a shower as soon as you can. Use an anesthetic spray, cream or gel {like Dermoplast, Bactine or Vagisil} to relieve the burning sensation. A blister or cluster of blisters may form in the place you were stung; leave them alone, because this is a normal reaction of the body to protect the area from further damage until it heals. If you still feel too uncomfortable or develop a fever, go to a doctor or get treated at an E.R.
2007-02-25 08:57:26 · answer #1 · answered by la_nena_sabe... 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-12-23 20:31:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you've ever felt the sting of a jellyfish, you know to steer clear. These graceful ocean dancers can ruin the best of beach days.
Jellyfish are common in all waters and the dreaded Portuguese man of war has occasionally found its way into the New England area. The Portuguese Man of War , also known as the bluebubble or bluebottle, is commonly thought of as a jellyfish but is actually a siphonophore —a colony of four sorts of polyps. The man of war has a large float, which may appear pink, blue or purple. Man o' war tentacles can be as long as 165 feet.
Each jellyfish tentacle can house millions of stinging cells, called nematocysts, which eject a barbed thread and sometimes poison. Contrary to popular belief, jellyfish do not consciously sting; barbs are automatically released when an object comes in contact with the cells. Dead jellyfish can also be hazardous to beachgoers.
Jellyfish stings can be serious, but are seldom fatal. Usually symptoms include a burning sensation, redness and welts, and swelling of the lymph nodes. In rare cases, a jellyfish sting may induce anaphylactic shock and require hospitalization.
you are stung by a jellyfish:
Immediately alert the lifeguard on duty, who is trained in first aid and can call for assistance if necessary.
Brush off any tentacles using an object, do not use your hands unless you are wearing gloves.
Pour vinegar over the wound to disable the stinging cells. If vinegar is not available, rinse the wound with sea water or saline solution. (Research suggests that this may reduce the chance of the cells continuing to sting, as compared to rinsing the wound with fresh water.)
Ice the area to minimize pain.
2007-02-26 11:55:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been stung by a jellyfish. Hurt like hell, but I didn't get a burn. If I did, I just didn't know about it and the pain went away.
2007-02-25 06:27:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a shower a soon as you can. Bactine spray helps. It's been a long time since I got stung by a jellyfish.
2007-02-25 06:22:22 · answer #5 · answered by DrPepper 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This may sound gross, but, my brother's family has lived in Hawaii forever, and the way you do something, instantly, when you are stung by a jellyfish, is to urinate on the spot where it got you. Seriously, this is WHAT is done in Hawaii.
2007-02-25 08:04:13 · answer #6 · answered by laurel g 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got stung by sea wasp in Cuba (jellyfish) Excruciatingly painful.
You use Ammonia to get rid of the sting, and I know this sounds gross but it is true, if you don't have ammonia, pee in a cup and rub it on...pee contains ammonia
2007-02-25 06:41:08 · answer #7 · answered by bob shark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my brother got stung INSIDE his pants by a jellyfish when he was younger...some treatments: urinating on the sting (preferably your own urine...), jumping in a chlorinated pool, & pouring alcohol over the sting. Tylenol has acetaminophen, which is not an anti-inflammatory drug-use ibuprofen instead.
2007-02-26 05:02:40 · answer #8 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There was an episode on Friends dealing with this issue. One of the characters peed on her sting and it felt all better. Pee has ammonia in it and that takes away the sting. I know, kinda gross huh.
For afterward, I'd take an anti-inflammatory like Tylenol
2007-02-25 10:38:34 · answer #9 · answered by Terry Z 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rinse the affected area with salt water or don't rinse at all. Do rinse the involved area of the skin with fresh water, because it will further activate nematocysts and worsen the reaction.
I would seek medical attention soon if you become very sick.
Take Care & good luck.
2007-02-25 06:31:12 · answer #10 · answered by X-Woman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋