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, sculpins, and stingrays—when you’re swimming or wading in ocean water. These animals don’t attack you. But they may sting if they’re stepped on or touched. Even dead jellyfish can sometimes release venom (poison) when handled.
When to go to the emergency room
Not all marine animal stings need urgent care. But you should get emergency care if any of the following is true:
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You don’t know what type of sting you have.
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You have a history of allergic reactions.
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You are stung on the face or neck.
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You have trouble breathing.
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You have severe pain with or without swelling of the area.
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You have chest pain.
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You have severe bleeding.
What to expect in the ER
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Your injury will be cleaned and examined.
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Any remaining stingers or tentacles will be removed.
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A jellyfish sting may be rinsed with salt (saline) solution or vinegar. This prevents more toxins from being released. Any tentacles left in the skin will be removed.
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If your reaction is severe, you may be given a steroid medicine to help control it.
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If you are in pain, medicine may be prescribed to make you more comfortable. Heat will also help ease most stings.
Follow-up care
See your health care provider if:
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The wound isn’t healing.
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You have signs of infection, such as:
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Redness.
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Pain.
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Discharge.
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Fever of
100.4 ° F (38 °C) or higher, or as directed by your provider.
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Get emergency care if you have signs of an allergic reaction. Signs can occur up to a month after a jellyfish sting and include:
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Itching.
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Swelling of the affected body part, hands, head, face, or tongue.
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Trouble breathing.
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Vomiting.
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Feeling light-headed or losing consciousness.
After a bite or sting
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Stay calm.
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Get out of the water safely.
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Remove any stingers you see with tweezers or the tips of your fingers. If you use your fingers, rinse them in seawater directly afterward. It's best to inactivate stingers with vinegar before removing them. This helps prevent the release of extra venom.
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Wash the area with saltwater. Vinegar may help ease the pain of jellyfish stings.
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Don't raise the stung body part above the level of your heart.
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Don't take any medicine unless told to by a health care provider.
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Don't apply ice to jellyfish stings. Instead, use heat. Heat makes the jellyfish poison inactive.
