How To Treat a Sea Nettle Jellyfish Sting

We’re in the thick of and the stinging jellyfish are making the bay and river a nearly impossible place for swimmers to enjoy. But if you’ve managed to try anyway and get stung, the Barnegat Bay Partnership’s James Vasslides explained what to do.

It’s the nematocysts that line the sea nettle’s tentacles that create the sting. This portion of the complex organism’s body fire automatically if you brush up against it, whether you inadvertently swim into one or if the tide pushes it into you.

So what can you do if you have been stung by a sea nettle? 

Vasslides spoke about the medical attention needed for a sea nettle sting.

"The Mayo Clinic recommends a three-step process for treating sea nettle jellyfish stings. 

First wash off the sting area immediately with seawater to remove any remaining tentacles.

Be sure to use seawater; using fresh water can cause more stings to occur. 

Don't use vinegar for sea nettle stings, it can cause any remaining nematocysts to fire. 

Secondly, remove leftover stingers by applying shaving cream or a paste of seawater and baking soda or sea water and talcum powder to the sting area.

Scrape it off when it dries. 

Lastly, relieve the pain and itching with ice and over-the-counter skin creams (such as calamine lotion).  Rinsing or soaking the sting area with hot water may also help."