Before you take a single step on the sand, it's important to know how to treat a jellyfish sting. These painful suckers are easy to miss, but all it takes is a single sting to ruin a relaxing day at the beach. The severity of the symptoms depends on the type of jellyfish that stings you and the number of nematocysts in your skin. Do not use fresh water. Most jellyfish stings get better with home treatment. Vinegar rapidly halts the thousands of tiny unfired stinging cells left on the surface of the skin after tentacle contact. Vinegar can even aid ocean swimmers stung by jellyfish, Arizona State University nutritionist and researcher Carol S. Johnson, who has studied this common salad topper's nonculinary medicinal uses, told the National Institutes of Health. If you go to the beach frequently, you most likely have encountered a jellyfish at some point. The two most dangerous types of jellyfish are the box and the Irukandji jellyfish, both of which are only found in the Pacific Ocean near Australia. For other jellyfish stings, soaking or rinsing the area in vinegar (acetic acid) for 15-30 minutes stops the stingers from releasing their venom. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Make sure that the water is not hot enough to burn or scald your skin. Vinegar — The acidity of vinegar helps deactivate the stingers of some types of jellyfish. Vinegar helps, but for these types of stings the researchers found that a proprietary product, Sting No More ®, was most effective. Vinegar, as opposed to urine, is the best way to treat a jellyfish sting. If vinegar is not available, the sting site can be washed with ocean water. This mixture is the most effective first aid treatment for many types of jellyfish stings. Vinegar can be an effective treatment for jellyfish stings, but many other popular remedies can make the injury worse. Some … Note: If your child experiences any of the symptoms below, get him or her to a doctor immediately, as these are signs of a severe jellyfish sting and could be life-threatening. Vinegar is safe and effective for all types of jellyfish stings. Most jellyfish stings are harmless. But there are some types of jellyfish that contain poisonous venom that can be dangerous if you don’t get immediate medical attention. For maximum effectiveness, mix the vinegar with hot water. When using vinegar, be sure to rinse the affected area for at least 30 seconds. One study from Hawaii found that scraping and seawater rinsing actually made the box jellyfish stings worse (Toxins, March 15, 2017). Some types of jellyfish stings may respond better to a combination salt water and baking soda. In a new study, two researchers from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa found that of all the home-style remedies to treat a jellyfish sting, only vinegar was a good idea. 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