Should i pee on my jellyfish sting

At this point, you can steep the affected area in hot tap water for 20—40 minutes to help reduce the pain. Apply an over-the-counter cortisone cream for discomfort and itching. Get emergency medical attention if the pain persists or intensifies or if you experience other symptoms of a severe reaction, such as difficulty breathing , chest pains , or major swelling.

To avoid getting stung in the first place, monitor seasonal jellyfish blooms in the destinations you plan to visit and make reservations accordingly. Never touch a jellyfish you see on the sand—tentacles can release venom even when the creature is dead. If you're extra-nervous about getting stung in the water, a full bodysuit of the sort worn by surfers will protect all the covered parts of your skin from tentacles and, now that we think of it, any fluids from strangers who treat the ocean like a toilet.

Basically, we just want you to arrive at the end of your beach day not covered in something gross. Thank you for subscribing! Got it! Thank you! Don't let a jellyfish flush your beach vacation down the drain. Follow these steps to treat a sting without making it worse. For pain, an oral analgesic should do the trick for North American jellyfish stings. Australia, though, has nastier jellyfish such as the deadly Box Jellyfish and most Australian lifeguard teams are equipped with morphine and antivenoms to treat unlucky swimmers Down Under.

Ultimately, time, not urine, is the best treatment for a jellyfish sting. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Discover World-Changing Science. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter.

Sign Up. Support science journalism. Knowledge awaits. See Subscription Options Already a subscriber? Create Account See Subscription Options. After Joey experiences stage fright, Chandler is forced to do the deed.

Cue a traumatised three having to confess to the rest of the gang about their distressing experience. But should we follow suit?

No, says Dr Peter Richardson. He has been researching jellyfish numbers, and insists that urine doesn't help a jellyfish sting. He is very clear on the issue: "Peeing on a jellyfish sting is not advised. It warned that urine, on occasion, can even cause the sting to burn more, not less.