22/07/2026
☀️🌊 A wee Highland summer reminder… 🪼
I actually started writing this post last week, in the glorious sunshine, while watching locals and visitors alike wandering barefoot along our beautiful beaches as jellyfish lazily bobbed past in the water.
Looking out of the window today, I'm wondering whether a summer post was perhaps a little optimistic... 🌧️😂
Anywhoose... this is the Highlands! Give it half an hour and we'll probably have sunshine again.
When you are out enjoying our fantastic beaches this summer, just remember that we do share them with a few wee critters that can pack quite a sting. The most common are jellyfish, and occasionally weever fish, which like to bury themselves in the sand in shallow water.
🪼 If you or someone with you gets stung:
• Get out of the water safely if needed.
• Rinse the area with seawater (not fresh water).
• If you can see any tentacles or spines, remove them carefully with tweezers or the edge of a bank card, avoiding touching them with bare hands.
• Soak the area in very warm water (as hot as can comfortably be tolerated) for at least 30 minutes, as this can help relieve the pain.
• Simple pain relief, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (if appropriate), may also help.
Many of our overseas visitors may have been told that vinegar is the best treatment for jellyfish stings. Advice varies around the world because different species need different treatment, but for the stings we commonly see here in the UK, current NHS advice is seawater followed by very warm water. So perhaps save the vinegar for your fish and chips instead! 🍟😉
Most stings are painful rather than dangerous, but seek urgent medical help if someone develops difficulty breathing, collapses, has severe swelling, or if the sting involves the eyes, mouth or throat.
And finally... 👀
Ever thought you might like to get involved in all things pharmacy? 💊
Well... watch this space.
We might just be looking for someone to join our wee team in the near future...
Enjoy the summer (whenever it decides to arrive!), take care on the beaches, and as always, if you're unsure about a sting, bite or anything else health-related, pop in and have a chat with us.
Ian and the Gairloch Pharmacy team