Jelly fish stings

[RiggedEscape]

curious as to if anyone has a remedy for jelly fish stings? Growing up in Florida we always used meat tenderizer, but no matter how careful you are it always seems to harden by exposure to damp air and is basically a one use kinda thing. Any suggestions to a commercial product or other ideas that work?

 

[Diver Dennis]

Basically anything that changes the PH. I use vinegar or even tomatoes sometimes, depends what is on the boat. I got some nasty ones this last weekend.

 

[Thalassamania]

What you are trying to do is inactivate the remaining nematocysts so that they do not fire whilst you remove the tentacles from the victim's flesh. This is best done with a weak solution of ammonia, urine also works fine. Vinegar works well as does isopropyl alcohol. Avoid fresh water because it will cause nematocysts to fire and make the problem worse. Do not rub the wound or apply ice for the same reason. A paste of baking soda or mud has been recommended by some authorities followed by "shaving" the area with a credit card or similar item to remove the tentacles. Keep in mind that breathing difficulties and even anaphylaxis are possible.

Here's a link to MedLine Plus

 

[FireDiver443]

OK, true story:

While in La Ceiba, Honduras enroute to Utila (who knew the ferry didn't run on Independence Day?) I had occasion to snorkel and do a jellyfish encounter. After my encounter, I walked into the seaside tiki bar at my "resort" and asked if they had vinegar. Of course, I didn't know the spanish word for vinegar (como se dice "vinegar" wasn't exactly going to help) and was told no - "tiene coke, pepsi, cerveza."

*sigh*

Anyway, a nice local girl named Daisy realized my dilemma and slathered my leg with limes. Worked like a charm.

Apparently in Honduras, they've learned limes have a variety of medicinal properties. We also observed them being liberally applied to a local gentleman passed out drunk in a chair.

We mock what we do not understand.

 

[jcscuba]

According to DAN there are relatively new directions in this area. Urine, is not recommended for obvious reasons, meat tenderizer is no longer recommended as is vinegar is only recommended for Box Jellyfish found in Australia. It has been found according to DAN using vinegar will stop nematocysts from firing in this variety but increase it for others.

The recommended treatment is flush with salt or any water, then apply heat up to 120 degrees for 20-30 minutes at a time to help kill the pain. Interestingly I've found on night dives where little ones are all over the surface as I'm trying to exit on to a dive boat, I take out my reg, purge it and create a nice big area for my exit and I haven't ever been stung on the face since using this method. J.C. Hazardous Marine Life Injury Instructor DAN Marine Life Injury Instructor PADI Source, most recent DAN Instructor materials, PADI uses same materials.

 

[Nismo]

Beebe Hospital in Delware recommends vinegar and was on the sheet they gave me when I was stung. Needs to be plain, white vinegar. Didnt do anything for he however. There is a sun block from Leisure Pro that is supposed to help prevent stings. Was studied at one of the large univerisities in Cali. Helped 80% of the testers prevent stings. Not expensive at all. The manufacturers web site is really good too. Forget the products name but take it with me every time I go to the beach now and on vacation.

 

[tstormdiver]

According to DAN there are relatively new directions in this area. Urine, is not recommended for obvious reasons, meat tenderizer is no longer recommended as is vinegar is only recommended for Box Jellyfish found in Australia. It has been found according to DAN using vinegar will stop
nematocysts from firing in this variety but increase it for others. The recommended treatment is flush with salt or any water, then apply heat up to 120 degrees for 20-30 minutes at a time to help kill the pain.

That's pretty much just what I learned in my DAN Emergency Management Provider course. water flushes off the nematocysts. The toxins injected by the nematocysts are protein based. The warm temperatures of the water tends to "cook" the proteins, rendering them inactive.

 

[seaducer]

You can always have your buddy pee on them. I am not sure if it really helps with the pain, but at least you will have something else to focus on!

 

[khblair]

meat tenderizer mixed with colgate toothpaste until creamy. was a real life saver (not literally) for a couple of dive buddies on our last Honduras trip. i was a hero and they smell minty fresh ....... and pain free

 

[RiggedEscape]

yeah, have used vinegar and once even thought of the peeing trick but freaked out the girl who I asked to do it <shrug>....on a side note, being from Florida I learned a neat trick to fix fire ant stings I'll pass along...WD40

yep...a spray can of WD40. It immediately makes the pain go away, no swelling, no itching, no scars or sores..really. Just spray on the affected area and go about your business. Don't know what about it makes it work for the stings but it's a miracle kinda thing for fire ants. And if anybody does any fresh water or spring diving anywhere in FL you're gonna eventually run into fire ants.

I'd like to take credit for this idea, but I learned it from foster mother with about 14 kids in tow one day at the springs. She was set up with her group of future felons next to us and one little kid ran up crying and scratching. She whipped out a small can of WD40 and sprayed the kids foot and the little urchin ran off happy. I tried it myself later that summer and the damn thing really works. Trust me on this.