Nothing can ruin a day at the beach faster than a jellyfish sting. However, most jellyfish stings can be treated with simple home remedies. Remove any attached tentacles with tweezers, by scraping them away with a stick, or flushing with seawater; don’t touch the tentacles with your bare hands or you risk further injury. Then rinse the area with vinegar for 30 seconds to deactivate any remaining stingers that may still have venom inside (the lifeguard may have vinegar on hand). Soak the area in tolerably hot, fresh water for 20 minutes after to relieve pain, and follow up with calamine lotion or lidocaine to help with itch and irritation. If the affected area is large, or you experience any severe reaction — difficulty breathing, nausea, dizziness, loss of consciousness, muscle spasms, etc. — call 911.
