Not all marine animal stings need urgent care. But you should get emergency care if any of the following is true:

• You don’t know what type of sting you have.

• You have a history of allergic reactions.

• You are stung on the face or neck.

• You have trouble breathing.

• You have severe pain with or without swelling of the area.

• Your injury will be cleaned and examined.

• A jellyfish sting may be rinsed with salt (saline) solution or vinegar. This prevents more toxins from being released. Any tentacles left in your skin will be removed.

• If your reaction is severe, you may be given a steroid medicine to help control it.

• If you are in pain, medicine may be prescribed to make you more comfortable.

See your healthcare provider if:

• The wound isn’t healing

• You have signs of infection such as:

  • Redness
  • Pain
  • Discharge
  • Fever of  100.4° F ( 38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

Get emergency care if you have signs of an allergic reaction. These can occur up to a month after a jellyfish sting.

• Itching

• Swelling of the affected body part, hands, head, face, or tongue

• Trouble breathing

• Stay calm.

• Get out of the water safely.

• Don't use your bare hands to remove a stinger. Remove any stingers you see by wiping with a towel. It's best to inactivate stingers with vinegar before removing them. This helps prevent the release of excess venom.

• Wash the area with saltwater. Vinegar may help ease the pain of jellyfish stings.

• Don't raise the stung body part above the level of your heart.

• Don't take any medicine unless told to by a healthcare provider.

• Don't apply ice to jellyfish stings. Instead use heat. Heat inactivates the jellyfish poison.