How To Treat A Jellyfish Sting And No Don't Pee On It

For brainless gelatinous blobs, jellyfish pack an impressive punch. Their tentacles are covered in cells called cnidocytes which, once they come into contact with your body, shoot vicious venom that immediately begins to erode skin, causing blistering, burning and a whole lot of pain.

An ocean encounter with a jellyfish can really put the brakes on your vacation, and in some cases could land you in a hospital, so what should you do to treat the wound? Despite what you’ve probably heard (and seen on that infamous episode of Friends) the DIY emergency solution has nothing to do with urination.

Experts warn that pouring water—and yes, that includes pee—over the affected area might mess with the cells that still reside on the skin’s surface, triggering more venom to be released. Instead it’s best to gingerly remove any lingering tentacles—lifting them away from the skin with tweezers rather than scraping—then apply vinegar for 30 seconds to neutralize.

Next, run a bath or fill a bucket and slowly submerge the sting in hot water—as scorching as you can bear—for 20 minutes. Heat, rather than the ice you probably want, can help reduce the sting.

Once you’ve sought proper medical attention the wound should heal within a couple of weeks. Not ideal when you’re trying to enjoy the beach, but—silver lining—at least you didn’t get peed on.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.