What is best to use on jellyfish bites?!
Question:
What is best to use on jellyfish bites?
Is it vinegar or oil? Or are they equally effective? I've found oil to be very effective in immediate pain relief after the bite, but people have lately been surprised that I didn't use vinegar!
Thanks :)
Answers:
Plain, ordinary household vinegar. It neutralizes the venom (to some extent, some people may still require emergency treatment if an allergic reaction occurs).
I've never heard of oil being used. Vinegar is also handy on insect stings and bites (ants, bees, wasps, horseflies, hornets, yellow jackets). It's not effective on spider venom though.
Depending on the size of the jellyfish, you might need a few sprays or a whole bottle. Also, some types of jellyfish are more venomous than others (box jellyfish are huge and can inject a vast amount of venom...they are about as big as a basketball with tentacles many yards long).
After a sting, it's still a good idea to see a doctor.
EMT