I would like to warn those in my community that stinging jelly fish are floating in amongst the seaweed in Parksville bay.
Recently, I was swimming in the warm waters when I was stung by a jelly fish around the neck and shoulder. The pain was definite enough to cause a speedy exit to my car and home. For a child it would have been excruciating causing more panic for the child and the parents.
The internet recommends vinegar, but my friends had a better answer — black tea! Copious amounts of warm to hot black tea for a continual bath for at least 15 to 30 minutes. During the process of not just dabbing but soaking the skin with tea, scraping the affected skin with the edge of a credit card was also effective. The scraping removes the minute tentacles left by the jelly fish that cause at least two weeks of discomfort, according to the internet.
Whether this home remedy/treatment is available with Island Health care, I do not know, but the result was a comfortable night’s sleep and a 98 per cent cure of all symptoms.
Sue Foreman
Parksville
