Should you pee on a jellyfish sting?
This must have started as a prank on someone’s poor friend. And that poor friend must have been in a lot of pain to let their buddy pee on them.
To get straight to the point, peeing on a jellyfish sting is not only ineffective but potentially harmful.
To understand why, we need to look at how jellyfish stings work. Jellyfish tentacles are armed with microscopic weapons called nematocysts. These tiny cells function like spring-loaded harpoons, waiting to fire when triggered by contact. When activated, they inject venom into whatever brushes against them - usually small fish, but sometimes unfortunate surfers.
For small fish, these stingers are paralyzing or deadly. But for humans, most jellyfish stings are more painful than dangerous. However, some species can be deadly, so it's crucial to know how to respond correctly. The box jellyfish, for instance, is no joke - its sting can be fatal within minutes.
So why is urine a bad idea? Imagine you've got some jellyfish tentacles stuck to your skin. Not all the nematocysts fire on initial contact, meaning there's potential for things to get worse. Urine, like any liquid, can cause these remaining cells to discharge, essentially re-stinging you and injecting more venom. And doubly so for actually peeing on the sting, since the force of the urine is enough to trigger more nematocysts.
The myth likely started because urine contains trace amounts of ammonia and urea, compounds that can help neutralize stings. However, unless you have something seriously wrong in your body, the concentrations in human urine are far too low to be effective. Any potential benefit is outweighed by the risk of triggering more stings.
What should you do instead? First, rinse the sting site with seawater or vinegar (except for Portuguese Man o’ War stings, which don't respond well to vinegar. Just use sea water for these guys). Avoid fresh water, as it can trigger more nematocysts. Next, carefully remove any remaining tentacles using tweezers and a gloved hand. Then, rinse again with seawater or vinegar. It's not a fun process, but it's far better for you than leaving them there or peeing on them.
For serious stings or signs of an allergic reaction like difficulty breathing or swelling in the mouth and nose, seek professional medical help immediately. Don't try to tough it out - jellyfish venom is nothing to mess with and can cause the skin to die.
Next time you spot a jellyfish, give it some space and keep that pee where it belongs - keeping you toasty in your wetsuit.
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