What to Do After You're Stung

If you have been stung by a jellyfish, the first thing to do is to ensure you are not having severe or life-threatening side effects such as difficulty breathing or swelling of your lips, throat or tongue. If any of these occur, it is important to call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room right away. It is also important to seek medical attention right away if you develop fevers, are feeling sick (e.g. chills, nausea, vomiting), or if the sting occurs in (or near) your eyes or mouth.

If you don’t experience any of the warning signs above, it is likely safe to try to care for the sting yourself.

• Start by rinsing the area with sea water to rinse off the venom (of note: using fresh water can actually make the pain and irritation worse).
• Using gloved hands or tweezers, remove any tentacles you can see.
• Follow by washing the area with vinegar to help stop the stinging. Keep in mind there are a few species of jellyfish where vinegar can make the stinging worse, so do this cautiously.
• After completing these steps, you can use over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream (alternatively, calamine lotion), ibuprofen and diphenhydramine (aka Benadryl) to help soothe pain, itching, and irritation.

Note, while the pain and irritation usually improve within 12-24 hours, the redness and rash can persist for weeks! Some stings may even leave a scar.