Some people experience jellyfish stings while swimming in the sea, and these stings can sometimes cause severe pain. What are the essential first aid measures when exposed to these injuries? Regarding this topic, Russian surgeon and pediatrician Viktor Shin stated, "The Black Sea has venomous jellyfish that can cause skin burns from their stings. The first thing to do when stung is to remove the stinging cells from the skin, which can be scraped off with blunt metal or plastic tools. The rescuer should not use their bare hands, as they may get stung as well. After that, rinse the affected area with water, preferably seawater, and then apply cold compresses to the damaged skin. It is useful to take antihistamines to reduce allergic symptoms." He added, "If the burn from the sting is large and extremely painful, a panthenol spray can be used. It is recommended to spray the affected area with miramistin solution to prevent infection."
The doctor warned against rubbing the affected skin with hands, scratching it, applying ointments on it, or disinfecting it with iodine, and emphasized the importance of washing hands well and avoiding touching the eyes after coming into contact with jellyfish. Russian physician Olga Minina stated, "When you cannot avoid jellyfish, you should exit the water quickly, as the toxins from these creatures spread through the nervous system very rapidly. When stung, you should drink large amounts of water to dilute these toxins in the body and speed up their elimination process. It is advised to apply saline compresses or seawater on the sting area."
