Jake Gyllenhaal Recalls “Using Pee” to “Save a Life” [Video]

In a Nutshell:

• Jake Gyllenhaal recently revealed on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” that he once used his own urine to treat a jellyfish sting while working as a lifeguard as a teenager.
• While the myth of peeing on a jellyfish sting to relieve the pain persists, medical professionals caution that urine can actually make the pain worse by triggering the release of more venom.
• Gyllenhaal joked that he’s “willing to (do whatever) to save a life,” but it’s probably best to stick to more scientifically proven methods of treating jellyfish stings.

If you’re ever stung by a jellyfish and Jake Gyllenhaal is nearby, you’re in luck – the Hollywood actor is apparently happy to lend a hand (or other body part).

Appearing on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” to promote his new film “The Covenant,” Gyllenhaal reminisced about his days as a teenage lifeguard.

“It wasn’t like Baywatch, necessarily,” he admitted, before regaling the audience with a tale of how he saved the day with a bizarre remedy for jellyfish stings.

According to Gyllenhaal, when a beachgoer was stung by a jellyfish on his watch, he took matters into his own hands.

“They told me that that was what you had to do, and a person was in pain,” he said.

“I suggested that they — that we should — use pee and at that point, you know, the pain of a jellyfish sting. They wanted it. They would take anything, really.”

While the idea of peeing on a jellyfish sting is a common myth, experts say it doesn’t actually work. In fact, it can actually make things worse.

But that didn’t stop Gyllenhaal from going the extra mile to help his fellow beachgoer. “I’m willing to (do whatever) to save a life,” he quipped.

The story had host Kelly Clarkson and the audience in stitches, with Clarkson asking incredulously whether Gyllenhaal peed on the person directly.

“It was their choice,” he replied. “I didn’t pee on them, they just peed on themselves.”

While some may find the story gross or even unsettling, Gyllenhaal’s willingness to go the extra mile to help someone in need is undeniably admirable. And who knows – maybe his unconventional remedy really did help alleviate the pain of that jellyfish sting.

So, the next time you’re at the beach and see Jake Gyllenhaal nearby, just remember – he’s not only a talented actor, but a lifeguard with a unique set of skills. And if you get stung by a jellyfish, you might just get a helping hand (or stream) from the man himself.

Source: TODAY.com