Some of the most beautiful jellyfish are also the most dangerous.
A jellyfish sting can ruin anyone's day at the beach. The term "jellyfish" describes a variety of stinging oceanic life, ranging from the highly toxic Man-O-War, to the Sea Wasp. Upon contact with its prey or human skin, a jellyfish's tentacles release thousands of thorn-like stingers which inject the skin with acetic acid. Common symptoms of low-risk jellyfish sting include stinging, rash, itchiness and blisters. Symptoms of highly-toxic jellyfish stings can quickly affect the whole body such as vomiting, cramping, fever and dizziness. Systemic and severe reactions warrant immediate medical attention.
Instructions
1. Put on your rubber gloves immediately, before attempting any treatment. The stingers will sting your hands without proper protection. Instruct the patient to lay as still as possible. An increase in heart rate or body movement will accelerate the body's rate of venom absorption.
2. Rinse the wound thoroughly and immediately, by pouring sea water over the affected limb using a medium-sized cup. Do not use fresh water, this will intensify the burn of .
3. Flush the affected area thoroughly by pouring 5 percent vinegar directly onto the skin. The vinegar will help neutralize any surface level acetic acid on the skin. Do not pat or rub the wound dry, as this could spread the stingers over a greater surface area.
4. Remove any visible stingers with a pair of small metal tweezers or forceps. Place removed particles into a zipper-sealed plastic bag to prevent accidental spreading.
5. Mix and apply a thick paste to the skin made from 1/2 cup baking soda and 2 tablespoons of sea water. You can also use shaving cream, but the baking soda helps dry the wound more effectively. Allow the paste to harden on the skin for several minutes. The stiff paste will trap many, but not all of the remaining stingers. Scrape off the paste with a credit card or piece of cardboard and dispose of it into the plastic bag with the stingers your removed previously.
6. Submerge the stung limb in a container of hot water between 110 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. The heat neutralizes any remaining venomous spears that weren't discharged during the sting. Hot water can prove uncomfortable on a fresh sting, but it's necessary to effectively deactivate any remaining stingers.
7. Apply paper towel-wrapped cold packs directly to the wound for 10 minute intervals, to reduce swelling. Do not dry the skin in between hot and cold treatments.
8. Stop the cold pack intervals and apply steroid cream and bandages, only once the wound stops stinging.
Tags: acetic acid, baking soda, jellyfish sting, remaining stingers