TO RELIEVE A JELLYFISH STING

South Cornwall lifeguard supervisor, Abby Mundell, gives us her top tips on how to treat a jellyfish sting

Q: So, what do you do when you get stung by a jellyfish?

Abby Mundell: It’s very boring but just rinse it in sea water. Make sure it is not fresh water though as it can make it worse.

Q: Why not fresh water?

AM: Ice and cold water can cause the stingers to release more venom and cause more pain.

Q: We’ve all seen that Friend’s episode with Monica getting stung by a jelly, does peeing on it actually help?

AM: Well, we don’t get taught about that in lifeguarding! The best thing to do is not rub on it as the stingers can release more venom. Some people say to use vinegar, but I don’t think that’s great.

The best action to take is to rinse with salt water, remove stingers with tweezers, and then apply an antihistamine cream.

Lifeguards are trained to help with these situations, and if it gets worse, please seek medical help.