Southern Sky District

Scout Skills: Jellyfish Stings!

The bell-shaped pink jellyfish of cool northern waters and the Portugese man-of-war of warm southern waters have thousands of stinging cells on their tentacles. When touched, the poison of these cells cause a sharp burning pain.

FIRST AID: Wash the touched area with diluted ammonia or rubbing alcohol. A paste of household meat-tenderizer and water may relieve the pain. Get the victim under medical care as quickly as possible. Some people are allergic to jellyfish stings. They may go into deep shock without any notice. — The Official Boy Scout Handbook Ninth Edition, 1981