If you are stung by a jellyfish, get out of the water and alert a lifeguard or beach staff if available. Call 995 for severe pain, breathing difficulty, collapse or an extensive sting. If someone is distressed in the water, call for trained help and assist from safety. Tell responders the beach name and nearest access point. AVS jellyfish first aid and reporting guidance SCDF emergency medical services
Keep the person calm and still on shore. Avoid rubbing the sting, rinsing with fresh water or touching tentacles with bare hands. Follow the lifeguard’s or dispatcher’s instructions. AVS gives local guidance on seawater, plain vinegar and removing tentacles. AVS jellyfish first aid and reporting guidance
- Leave the water and alert beach staff or a lifeguard.
- Call 995 for a severe or extensive sting, breathing difficulty or collapse.
- Avoid rubbing the wound or rinsing with fresh water. Follow local first-aid guidance.
On this page
- Get safely to shore and call for help
- Follow AVS guidance while help is arranged
- Watch for symptoms and pass on clear details
- Frequently asked questions
Get safely to shore and call for help
Alert a lifeguard if you see a swimmer in pain or distress. If the person can get out with help, get them to shore promptly without putting another swimmer at risk. Give the caller the beach name, nearest access point or lifeguard post, and say whether the person is still in the water. AVS jellyfish first aid and reporting guidance SCDF emergency medical services
AVS lists rapidly increasing severe pain, tentacle marks, dizziness and breathing difficulty among signs of a possible box jellyfish sting. It treats stings covering more than half of one limb as life-threatening. Call for help based on the symptoms and extent of the sting, without waiting to identify the jellyfish. AVS jellyfish first aid and reporting guidance
Follow AVS guidance while help is arranged
AVS advises flooding the affected area with seawater and, if available, plain vinegar for at least 30 seconds. If vinegar makes the pain worse, stop using it and use seawater only. Avoid fresh water and urine. After flooding, AVS advises removing tentacles with a towel or tweezers. Keep bare hands away from the tentacles and follow on-scene instructions. AVS jellyfish first aid and reporting guidance
If the person becomes unresponsive or is breathing abnormally, tell the 995 dispatcher immediately and follow their instructions. If another person can help, send them to guide responders from the beach access point. SCDF emergency medical services AVS jellyfish first aid and reporting guidance
Watch for symptoms and pass on clear details
AVS notes that whole-body symptoms may develop after the person reaches shore and advises monitoring for at least 45 minutes. Follow the medical advice you receive and call 995 if severe symptoms develop. Tell staff when the sting happened, what part of the body is affected and what first aid was given. AVS jellyfish first aid and reporting guidance
A family beach example
A child comes out of the water with sudden severe pain. One adult calls 995 and gives the beach and access point. Another alerts a lifeguard and stays with the child. They report the symptoms without trying to catch or photograph the jellyfish.
Frequently asked questions
Can a jellyfish washed up on the sand be touched?
Keep clear and tell beach staff if it is near swimmers or children. AVS advises against touching jellyfish in the water or on the shore. AVS jellyfish first aid and reporting guidance
Should we wait to see if breathing improves?
Call 995 immediately for breathing difficulty, collapse or severe distress. Tell the dispatcher the symptoms and follow their directions. SCDF emergency medical services AVS jellyfish first aid and reporting guidance