First Aid Measures for Jellyfish Stings

[richard2338]

Can anyone provide any DEFINITE advice on the appropriate first aid treatment for jellyfish stings... in particular, those very nasty beasts that inhabit the waters off the west of Scotland? My marine identification is appalling... I assume these are Lion?s Mane jellyfish?
I am planning a trip there shortly with own boat and want something on hand for dealing with potential stings.

I might have chosen to take vinegar, but I've heard that vinegar actually makes certain marine life stings worse... not sure about lion's mane stings.
Ice-packs/ cold fresh running water seem to be generally approved of, but arent too convenient in a small boat.
Various sources also talk about hydro-cortisone or anti-histamine type creams for various marine stings.

Whats best please??? Any definite answers, rather than old-wives tales would be appreciated!

[Andy Wade]

Can anyone provide any DEFINITE advice on the appropriate first aid treatment for jellyfish stings... in particular, those very nasty beasts that inhabit the waters off the west of Scotland? My marine identification is appalling... I assume these are Lion?s Mane jellyfish?
I am planning a trip there shortly with own boat and want something on hand for dealing with potential stings.

I might have chosen to take vinegar, but I've heard that vinegar actually makes certain marine life stings worse... not sure about lion's mane stings.
Ice-packs/ cold fresh running water seem to be generally approved of, but arent too convenient in a small boat.
Various sources also talk about hydro-cortisone or anti-histamine type creams for various marine stings.

Whats best please??? Any definite answers, rather than old-wives tales would be appreciated!

Try the link at the bottom.
The advice seems to be mainly from Doctors and Marine Biologists who have studied the effects of stings.

It looks like vinegar stops some stings from firing (Cuboids) but causes other species' stings to fire (Cyanea - Lions Mane), the general best advice seems to be to use cold or ice packs as a first aid, and get a doctor.
Sounds like good advice to me.
The Hydrocortizone is for allergic reations to stings so will not work for everyone.
Try Dr Chris Edge, He's a medical referee of many years experience. If you scroll down the In Depth Forum page to the thread about 'EARS' you'll be able to contact him by clicking on his name.
The 'Lions Mane' jellyfish (Cyanea capillata)looks like this:

<a href="http://www.diveinstruct.org.uk/images3/lionsmane.jpg" >http://www.diveinstruct.org.uk/images3/lionsmane.jpg</a>

You can see lots of great pictures of marine life here:

<a href="http://articles.uwphoto.no/Oversikt_bilder.htm" >http://articles.uwphoto.no/Oversikt_bilder.htm</a>

The picture linked above is one that I ran into at St Abbs a few years ago and got stung in the face, I went a bit red and it stung at first, but nothing worse than a slap on the face really. Maybe I was lucky to have no other adverse reactions.
I didn't need any first aid and after a couple of hours the red mark disappeared. AFAIK I'm not allergic to anything, except a lack of beer of course... ;-)

Hope this helps.




.

[Andy Wade]

I forgot to add that if there are stinging tentacles still on the skin, don't use your fingers to remove them, I know that sounds obvious in the cold light of day, but in an emergency situation you just might forget.

[John Williams]

Any physical removal of jellyfish tentacles will cause more of the nematocysts to fire - with a resultant increase in exposure.

Since the tentacles and the physical structure of the nematocyst itself (including the barbs on the fired cells) is almost pure protein it can be dissolved by a solution made up of contact lens protein remover.

I have saved my used protein remover in a small squeegie bottle and used it to good effect to easily remove stinging tentacles (most usually from hands used to pull in the shot line!)

I now dont clean my lenses (using either daily- or monthly disposables for some time). But I do still make up a solution to take on trips where I expect to encounter jellyfish.

I've then always used freshwater or lemonade to wash the affected area and then applied a light coating of antihistamine cream to minimise the body's reaction (which is what causes the swelling/pain)

HTH

John
B.Sc. (Marine Biology)

[Philip Smith]

Since the tentacles and the physical structure of the nematocyst itself (including the barbs on the fired cells) is almost pure protein it can be dissolved by a solution made up of contact lens protein remover.

That sounds like a handy remedy. Another similar one that is often proposed is meat tenderising powder, which has proteolytic enzymes. An added advantage is that the powder tends to clump and dry the tentacles so they can be removed without them firing. Talc may achieve the same physical (but not enzymatic) effect.

Phil S

[Lindsey Doyle]

Hi,
the last time i got stung i had such a bad allergic reaction that everyone thought i was bent!
the crew (Oban) gave me hot water & vinegar, which soothed (eventually!)
Now as well as carrying anti-histamine tablets I apply "Safe Sea" lotion which claims to prevent stings.
HTH

[liz smith]

I lived in Greece some years ago and the general rule there was&gt;
1. Ammonia (available in little plastic bottles from the pharmacy.
2. Vinegar (handy if you are near a taverna)
3. Toothpaste (the minty stuff - I have used this to good effect in Tunisia)
4. If non of this is available good old sterile urine will do the trick - my friend got stung really badly in Spetses one year and whilst one of us legged it to the local taverna for some vinegar the patient began to jump around in pain, begging me to wee on her - I thought it was so funny I nearly wet myself!!!

[john bache]

Can anyone provide any DEFINITE advice on the appropriate first aid treatment for jellyfish stings... in particular, those very nasty beasts that inhabit the waters off the west of Scotland? My marine identification is appalling... I assume these are Lion?s Mane jellyfish?
I am planning a trip there shortly with own boat and want something on hand for dealing with potential stings.

I might have chosen to take vinegar, but I've heard that vinegar actually makes certain marine life stings worse... not sure about lion's mane stings.
Ice-packs/ cold fresh running water seem to be generally approved of, but arent too convenient in a small boat.
Various sources also talk about hydro-cortisone or anti-histamine type creams for various marine stings.

Whats best please??? Any definite answers, rather than old-wives tales would be appreciated!

When I was 12 I got stung by a jellyfish whilst swimming away from one which looked just like a lions mane in Embleton Bay. It was not too bad at first but by the time I had swum back to the shore I was regretting that particular "at one with nature" episode.

Anyway .. some antihistamine cream from a local chemist reduced the swelling and shock and it wasnt too long before it seemed like a good idea to take on the north sea in a t shirt and trunks again.

Conclusion ... dont get stung by jelyfish ... but if you do .. get some antihistamine cream.

[john bantin]

All good advice above. When I had a dive-boat in the Med we always carried a bottle of vinegar with us. One thing you MUST NOT do is to wash (shower) in fresh water. This causes more nematocysts to fire off making things worse.

[dave covey]

Can anyone provide any DEFINITE advice on the appropriate first aid treatment for jellyfish stings... in particular, those very nasty beasts that inhabit the waters off the west of Scotland?


DANSEAP conduct 'hazardous marine life injuries' courses as part of their syllabus. Why not email them for a definitive answer?