In North America, most marine animal bites and stings aren’t deadly, but some may cause a deep wound or severe allergic reaction. You’re most likely to come in contact with biting or stinging marine life—including jellyfish, sea lice, sculpins and stingrays—when you’re swimming or wading.
These animals don’t attack you but may sting if they’re stepped on or touched. Even dead jellyfish can sometimes release venom (poison) when handled.
If you get a bite or sting, use these tips immediately afterwards:
- Remain calm and get out of the water safely
- Contrary to popular belief, urine is not the best treatment for a jellyfish sting.1 You should instead wash the affected area with saltwater to deactivate the stingers. Do not use freshwater, as this can cause more toxins to be released. Vinegar can also help relieve the pain of some jellyfish stings
- Do not use your bare hands to remove a stinger. Remove any stingers you see by wiping them with a towel
- Do not raise the stung body part above the level of your heart
- Do not take any medications unless prescribed by a healthcare provider
Not all marine animal stings need urgent care. You should go to an emergency room or urgent 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
What to expect at the emergency room or urgent care:
- Your injury will be cleaned and examined
- A jellyfish sting may be rinsed with saline (salt) 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 medication to help control it
- If you are in pain, medication may be prescribed to make you more comfortable
Follow-up care:
See your primary care provider if the wound isn’t healing or if you have signs of infection such as redness, pain, discharge or fever of 101°F or higher.
Seek emergency care if you have signs of an allergic reaction such as itching, trouble breathing or swelling of the affected body part, hands, head, face or tongue. These symptoms can occur up to a month after a jellyfish sting.
