(HealthDayNews) -- If your vacation package includes an area rife with jellyfish, steer clear of these marine animals. A jellyfish sting can be quite painful.

If you do get stung, here are some treatment tips provided by the Baystate Health System:

• Immediately rinse the area with sea water. Don't use fresh water and don't rub the area -- this will release more venom.
• You can also add meat tenderizer or rubbing alcohol to the salt water. This helps neutralize the poison.
• Carefully remove any attached tentacles. Protect your hand with a towel and apply a paste of sand or baking soda and salt water to the area. Scrape off the tentacles with the towel edge or the edge of a credit card.
• Apply calamine lotion to soothe the pain and itch.

If you're stung by a Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish, scrape off the tentacles with sand and seek emergency medical care immediately.