What kind of sting do you pee on

Once rinsing deactivates all the nasty nematocysts, the attached bits of tentacle can be removed by coating them with shaving cream or a slurry of seawater and sand followed by shaving with a razor or even a credit card.

For pain, an oral analgesic should do the trick for North American jellyfish stings. Australia, though, has nastier jellyfish such as the deadly Box Jellyfish and most Australian lifeguard teams are equipped with morphine and antivenoms to treat unlucky swimmers Down Under.

Ultimately, time, not urine, is the best treatment for a jellyfish sting. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up.

Support science journalism. Knowledge awaits. See Subscription Options Already a subscriber? Apply an over-the-counter cortisone cream for discomfort and itching.

Get emergency medical attention if the pain persists or intensifies or if you experience other symptoms of a severe reaction, such as difficulty breathing , chest pains , or major swelling.

To avoid getting stung in the first place, monitor seasonal jellyfish blooms in the destinations you plan to visit and make reservations accordingly. Never touch a jellyfish you see on the sand—tentacles can release venom even when the creature is dead.

If you're extra-nervous about getting stung in the water, a full bodysuit of the sort worn by surfers will protect all the covered parts of your skin from tentacles and, now that we think of it, any fluids from strangers who treat the ocean like a toilet. Basically, we just want you to arrive at the end of your beach day not covered in something gross. Thank you for subscribing! Got it! Thank you! Don't let a jellyfish flush your beach vacation down the drain.

Follow these steps to treat a sting without making it worse. By Zac Thompson. And all that water dilutes the ammonia and urea too much to be effective. This could trigger the stingers to release even more venom. Most jellyfish stings are harmless. Some jellyfish sting symptoms are much more severe. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:. Some jellyfish are relatively harmless, but others can have deadly stings.

There are multiple other ways to treat a jellyfish sting, including removing tentacles from your skin and rinsing with sea water. If you have a more severe reaction, like difficulty breathing, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, muscle spasms, vomiting, or confusion, get medical attention right away.

What should you do if you've been stung by a jellyfish? Find out here. Severe box jellyfish stings can be fatal, triggering cardiac arrest in your body within minutes. Learn more about first aid, symptoms, side effects…. A lot like a jellyfish, bluebottles have painful stings. If you have swelling in just one eye or have found a spider in the area where you were bit, it's safe to assume a spider or similar bug is to blame. Most spider bites are harmless, and symptoms will go away after a few days.