Playing in the water during low tide, six-year-old Kiara suddenly lets out a shriek. She heads toward the shore and is crying hysterically once she reaches her parents. Her mother can see long, red welts beginning to rise on one of Kiara’s legs. Kiara is screaming that her leg stings. The lifeguard calls for an EMR to help Kiara. Once the EMR arrives, he sends Kiara’s father to the ocean to collect seawater in a large bucket. Then, the EMR pours the water over Kiara’s wounds. After 20 minutes, the EMR produces a vinegar solution that is then applied to the angry, red welts on Kiara’s leg. Judging by the description of her wounds and the treatment chosen by the EMR, what marine creature has Kiara MOST likely had a run-in with?

Question

jellyfish

stingray

sand shark

anemone

Answer 1

Based on the description of Kiara's symptoms—long, red welts on her leg that sting and the treatment involving vinegar—it is most likely that she had a run-in with a jellyfish. Vinegar is commonly used to neutralize the venom of certain types of jellyfish stings, particularly those from species like the box jellyfish. Other marine creatures mentioned, like stingrays or sharks, would not typically exhibit symptoms treated with vinegar, and anemones do not generally cause the same type of stinging welts. Therefore, the correct answer is:

jellyfish.