Jellyfish Sting Remedy

JellyFish Facts
Jellyfish Safety
Jellyfish Sting Remedy

As far as most people are concerned, all jellyfish have tentacles and are capable of delivering a very painful, if not fatal, sting to human beings who come in contact with them. The truth of the matter is that there are over 2000 known species of jellyfish and a number of them do not even have tentacles. Even amongst those species that do have tentacles, not all species are harmful to humans. On the other hand, some jellyfish have venom that is considered amongst the most deadly in the world.

Stings from different species of jellyfish have different reactions in human beings. Jellyfish sting treatment depends largely upon the species of the jellyfish as well as the location of the sting. In some cases, the venom may not be powerful enough to kill a human being, but if the sting has affected one of the more sensitive areas of the human body, they can cause considerable damage, and even death.

If you are considering swimming in the open waters, it is advised that you are knowledgeable of jellyfish sting treatments. Jellyfish inhabit all marine waters of the world and depending on where you are, the risk on contacting a jellyfish may just be higher or lower. You need to be prepared with first aid for jellyfish stings, although it is far more advisable to use preventive measures to avoid jellyfish stings.

It is crucial to know the symptoms of a jellyfish sting to be able to apply the right jellyfish sting treatment. The rash caused by the sting of the jellyfish tends to be very painful for the first hour or so, after which the pain starts to subside. The rash may be painfully, itchy or may cause a burning or prickling sensation. The rash may remain visible for hours, days or weeks depending on the species of the jellyfish and in case of some species, may even leave a permanent scar. Other symptoms of jellyfish sting include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, body aches and pains, fast and shallow breathing and even high blood pressure.

Here are some basic jellyfish sting treatment methods that can be applied until medical help is summoned:

Nematocysts may remain embedded in the skin even after the tentacle has been removed. Rubbing the affected area could aggravate the nematocysts and spread the venom further.
Nematocysts that may still be attached to the skin can be disabled by pouring vinegar over the rash of the sting.
Avoid fresh water to wash the rash of the sting, as it could further activate embedded nematocysts. If vinegar is not readily accessible, use sea water to wash the rash.
To remove attached nematocysts after they have been disabled, use a pair of tweezers to pluck and pluck them carefully, avoiding all contact with them.
Never tie a tourniquet around the affected area. This will lead to the venom getting collected in one area and could severely damage the organ or body part in that area, leading to the need for amputation.

Find jellyfish sting protection and relief products on Ebay (best price) or your local diving supply store.

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Written by Nathan Dickerson and Sudarsana Sinha.