How do you treat a jellyfish sting?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Rinse with seawater (never fresh water, which fires remaining stinging cells), scrape off tentacles, then soak in hot water for at least 30 minutes - heat deactivates the venom and relieves pain best. Skip the urine myth entirely. Afterward, acetaminophen or ibuprofen plus an antihistamine covers most stings, which settle over days to a couple of weeks. Call an ambulance for any whole-body reaction: face, lip, or tongue swelling, breathing or swallowing trouble, dizziness, vomiting, chest pain, or widespread hives - venom can trigger anaphylaxis. Get seen for face or genital stings or later infection signs. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you judge the reaction.
What to do
- Seawater rinse, tentacles off: card edge or tweezers, never bare fingers.
- Hot water soak for 30 minutes: as hot as comfortable, not scalding.
- No urine, no fresh water: both can make stinging cells fire again.
- Ambulance for systemic signs: facial swelling, breathing trouble, dizziness, vomiting.
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