Vinegar and Jellyfish

Vinegar could save your life

Jellyfish stings are very painful and can be life threatening. In Australia 70 people are know to have died from the sting of the box jellyfish according to a report in New Scientist, July 10, 1993, page 14. It is possible to die in as little as 3 minutes after being stung. The sting of this jellyfish can cause the heart beat and breathing to stop and, according to my notes and calculations, that,s dead enough to consider some aggressive counter measures.

As the result of the death of a four year old boy in Australia, a big public campaign was launched so people are more aware of how dangerous these jellyfish are. But death can often be prevented if there is some vinegar on hand. A study in the Medical Journal of Australia vol. 1, page 15 reported that vinegar can stop the discharge of the venom from the box jellyfish.

When the box jellyfish stings , it does not release all of it,s venom at once. However the venom will continue to be discharged even if the tentacles have been broken off from the jellyfish.

But, according to the report in New Scientist, July 10, 1993, if 2 liters of vinegar are applied over the skin for over 30 seconds, the discharge of the venom will cease. So, if the person can receive this treatment quick enough, it may prevent the victim from receiving a fatal dose of the box jellyfish venom.

Some researchers have tried other acids such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, lemonade, fruit juices, tomato juice, milk, wine and beer. But the researchers found that only vinegar had the power to completely stop the discharge of venom from the box jellyfish. Coca-cola worked to some limited extent, and four day old wine which had been left open, and was probably on it,s way to being vinegar, worked better than Coca-Cola. So the researchers concluded that just because a liquid is acid, does not mean it will work as well as vinegar.

It should also be noted however that vinegar does not seem to work as well on all jellyfish stings. In one newly identified jellyfish, Physalia physalis, it seems to actually encourage a limited discharge of venom. It is never-the-less recommended by the Australian Resuscitation Council for all Jellyfish stings. And in another article entitled , Treating a jellyfish sting, in the magazine Nursing, August 1993, volume 3, number 8, vinegar is also recommended as part of a treatment for jellyfish stings.

Vinegar can,t cure everything but, according to modern medical science, it can help with jellyfish stings.