Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Stingrays and sea urchins and other marine creatures are not aggressive in nature. However, they can cause painful and potentially dangerous wounds when disturbed or harmed. Learn how to identify stingrays and sea urchins, suggest first aid steps, and provide information for victims to treat minor injuries on hands and feet at home. However, it is best for a victim to receive specialist care when stung by sea urchins and stingrays, even with home care. Wounds to the abdomen, chest, neck or face can be considered particularly serious, even life-threatening and must be treated immediately.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Identifying and treating a stingray wound

1. 

   
   
   Watch for common symptoms. Stingray wounds may have the following symptoms (mild and severe):
   • The wound is a stab wound. The stingray's stab is quite large and can be jagged. Stingrays usually do not leave spines behind after stinging, but in rare cases, the stingray's spikes can break inside the wound.
   • The victim immediately felt severe pain at the injection site.
   • The injured area is swollen.
   • The stab bleed.
   • The skin around the wound is initially green, then red.
   • Unusual sweating.
   • Victim is lethargic, weak, or dizzy.
   • Headache.
   • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
   • Fast breathing.
   • Seizures, cramps, or paralysis.

2. 

   
   
   Get medical attention right away if symptoms seem severe. The following signs indicate that the victim needs urgent medical help:
   • The wound is located on the abdomen, chest, neck, or face.
   • Massive bleeding.
   • Victim has difficulty breathing, itching, nausea, throat tightness, rapid pulse, dizziness, or loss of consciousness.

3. 

   
   
   Get the victim out of the water and into a safe place. Lay casualty on the ground if accident occurs near the shore, or on a floor or a seat on a boat if incident occurred in water near the vessel.
   • Getting out of the water quickly and safely is essential to avoiding further injury.
   • If the person vomits, have the person lie on their side to prevent choking.

4. 

   Stop bleeding. The best way to stop bleeding is to apply pressure to the injection site with a clean cloth or towel.
   • If you don't have a clean towel or cloth available, you can use a shirt or piece of clothing.
   • Use just enough pressure to stop bleeding or slow down the bleeding. If the victim is awake, asking if they can withstand such pressure or if such pressure will cause them more pain.

5. 

   Use tweezers to remove the thorn if you do not get medical attention. If you find that there is a thorn in the wound, you need to remove it to prevent the poison from entering the wound again. However, the stingray is serrated and will tear the skin when extracted, allowing the more venom to enter the wound. In addition, the unprofessional's attempt to remove the thorn can cause the thorn to break in the wound, meaning the doctor will have to process the wound again to remove the fragments. Furthermore, a really large thorn can actually seal a wound and prevent massive bleeding. Therefore, you should only try to remove thorns in the event you cannot access medical care in time, such as if you are very far from the mainland.
   • If you don't have tweezers available, you can use a small pointed pin to remove the spikes. Choose tools that are relatively clean to prevent infection of the wound, if possible.
   • Be careful of the thorn once it has been pulled out, so that it does not let it stab you or others. Dispose of the thorn by placing it in a bottle and cover it or wrap it in layers of plastic. This is to prevent others from accidentally bumping into it.
   • Do not use bare hands to remove the thorn from the wound. If you do not have a tool to remove the thorn, it is best to wait for a medical professional. Even thick gloves cannot guarantee you from spikes during handling, so be very careful.
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Part 2 of 4: Wash and soothe a stingray wound

1. 

   Treat the wound like a regular tear. Wash with warm fresh water, soap and / or disinfectant water. Cold water can be used if warm water is not available, but it may make the victim more painful. This step can be skipped if the victim is too painful.
   • If you don't have clean or disinfectant water, it is best to leave the wound alone until you can wash it. Washing with unclean water is a major disadvantage as it increases the risk of infection for the victim. This can be especially dangerous for deep wounds.

2. 

   Soak the injured area in water. This should be done when the victim is at home or in a medical facility. Use very warm or hot water to soak the affected area for about 30 to 90 minutes.
   • Be sure to use a clean basin and clean fresh water to soak it. This will help prevent the risk of further infection.
   • Warm water can degrade the protein in the venom. Try to use hot water around 45 ° C.

3. 

   Keep the wound clean. This helps the wound heal and prevents infection. Unless directed by a healthcare professional, wash the affected area at least once a day and apply over-the-counter antibiotic ointment to the wound.
   • A common antibiotic ointment in the US is Neosporin triple-antibiotic. There are many similar drugs available in pharmacies and convenience stores. This drug is for external use only.

4. 

   Take anti-inflammatory medication. These over-the-counter medicines (available over the counter) help reduce swelling and pain. Skip this step if the victim is vomiting or allergic to an anti-inflammatory medication.
   • An over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug that contains ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen. This medicine is available under many brand names (such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve) and can be purchased at any pharmacy in the US and most other countries.
   • Note that anti-inflammatory drugs will not heal the wound quickly, but only help relieve pain and discomfort caused by the wound.
   • Remember that the stingray's venom is believed to have an anticoagulant effect, especially at high doses. If the wound is bleeding and does not seem to be getting better, or the sting is especially severe, you should not give the victim anti-inflammatory medication as this can reduce the chance of blood clotting. Instead, you should immediately take the victim to a hospital, where they can be treated with local pain injections and anesthetics.

5. 

   Go to the doctor. The victim needs medical treatment even if the wound is not serious and the pain is quickly relieved. This is the easiest way to take care of the wound early in the day to prevent complications and eliminate certain risks.
   • Your doctor may order visual examination to make sure there are no debris of the stingray remains in the wound. This is the only way to make sure no harm remains in the victim's body. Even a small piece of thorn can cause an infection.
   • Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection (especially if the wound occurs in seawater). Always take the antibiotic for the full length of time prescribed, even if you think the wound has healed. If not, you could make the wound more infectious or infected.
   • Your doctor may also prescribe pain relievers if over-the-counter medications are ineffective. Absolutely do not take pain relievers over dosage prescribed by your doctor. To be safe, you need to follow the accompanying instructions (eg foods and drinks to abstain while taking medicine).
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Part 3 of 4: Identifying and treating a sea urchin stab wound

1. 

   Examine the situation around the victim. The discovery of sea urchins at the scene is a clear clue that sea urchin injury was caused. This creature is not able to escape quickly. If you have been stabbed by a sea urchin, you can easily tell by looking around.
   • This is not so important for the safety and health of the victim, but it also gives you some confidence that the wound was caused by a sea urchin.

2. 

   Watch for common symptoms. Sea urchin wounds can be of varying degrees of severity, but most often cause the following listed symptoms.
   • The wound has pieces of spikes stuck into the skin. These spines are usually bluish-green to show up under the skin, indicating the puncture site.
   • The victim immediately felt severe pain in the wound.
   • The wound is swollen.
   • The skin around the wound is red or purple-brown.
   • Victim feels joint discomfort or muscle pain.
   • The victim becomes weak or exhausted.

3. 

   Get medical attention right away if symptoms become severe. Even a seemingly small wound stabbed by a sea urchin can be fatal, especially if the victim is allergic to sea urchin venom. The following are signs that the victim needs immediate medical attention:
   • There are many deep stab marks.
   • Wounds to the abdomen, chest, neck, or face.
   • Exhaustion, muscle pain, weakness, shock, paralysis, or respiratory failure.

4. 

   Get the victim out of the water, into a safe place. Lay casualty on the ground if incident occurs near the shore. Most sea urchin crashes are caused by accidentally stepping barefoot on them. As such, most sea urchin attacks occur in shallow water and near the coast or beaches.
   • As with any accident caused by marine life, getting the victim out of the water quickly and safely is essential to avoid further injury.
   • Raise the injured part to allow sand or dirt to get into the wound, especially if the wound is under the soles of the feet.

5. 

   Arrange to move victim to a safe place indoors. Even if the victim and / or the person accompanying the victim says that emergency services are not needed, someone will need to take them home, to a hospital, hotel or nearby place to continue treatment.
   • Do not let the victim drive himself, as other symptoms may appear after injury and cause the victim to lose consciousness or be in more pain.
   • If you don't have a vehicle to move your victim or no one knows where to find a hospital or hotel, call emergency services. Delaying treatment for the wound can be dangerous.
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Part 4 of 4: Wash and soothe the wound caused by a sea urchin

1. 

   Soak the affected area in very warm or hot water for 30 to 90 minutes. This helps neutralize the venom and relieve pain, while softening the skin to make it easier to remove the spikes.
   • Soak the affected area in a clean tub of fresh fresh water. This is to prevent the risk of infection.
   • Soaking does not help the wound heal, but it can relieve pain and make it easier to remove the spines.
   • Do not dry the affected area. You need to remove the spines while the skin is still wet and soft.
   • You can also use vinegar to soak the wound to neutralize the venom and soften the wound.

2. 

   Use tweezers to remove large or visible spines. This will help relieve pain and prevent toxins from entering the wound.
   • If tweezers are not available, you can use a small pointed pin or similar tool to remove large spines from the wound. Choose clean equipment (preferably sterile), to avoid introducing infectious agents into the wound.
   • Place sea urchin spines in a bottle and cover, or wrap it in layers of plastic before disposing of it in the trash.
   • Do not use bare hands to remove the thorn from the wound. If you do not have the equipment available, it is best to wait for medical help.

3. 

   Gently scrape any smaller or less visible spines. Apply shaving cream to the affected area and gently scrape off any sticky spikes on the skin's surface with a razor. Even these tiny thorns release venom into the skin and can cause severe pain if not removed.
   • Do not use shaving cream with menthol, as menthol has a cooling effect on the skin and can cause more pain or irritation.
   • You can use vinegar to soak the injured area before shaving. Vinegar can break down small spikes and make it easier to remove the venom.

4. 

   Gently rub the affected skin with soap and warm water. This helps to wash away the wound and remove any remaining spikes on the skin surface. Wash the affected area thoroughly with clean fresh water.
   • You can also use cold water to wash it, but cold water can make the victim worse; meanwhile, warm water has the effect of neutralizing toxins.
   • Disinfectant can be used as a substitute for soap, but is usually not necessary.

5. 

   Take anti-inflammatory medication. This helps to reduce swelling and pain. Skip this step if the person is vomiting or allergic to this medication.
   • Note that anti-inflammatory drugs will not heal the wound quickly, but only help relieve pain and discomfort caused by the wound.
   • Never give the victim an overdose for their age and weight. Even over-the-counter drugs can be harmful if misused.

6. 

   Go to the doctor. Even though the wound is not serious and the pain is quickly relieved, the victim needs medical attention to get proper treatment and to prevent complications.
   • The doctor can visualize the wound to make sure there are no broken fragments left in the wound. The pieces of sea urchin spines will gradually go deeper into the skin, which can affect nerves or surrounding tissues and cause complications.
   • Swelling and pain lasting more than five days may indicate an infection or broken pieces of the sea urchin spines still deep in the skin. Only a doctor is able to handle this and can prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. Always take the full dose of antibiotics prescribed, even if you think the wound has healed.
   • In rare cases, minor surgery may be required to remove broken pieces of sea urchin spines that lie deep under the skin.
   • The doctor may prescribe painkillers if the pain is severe or in case of surgery.
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Advice

• Be careful when wading in shallow waters and stay away if you see rays or sea urchins. However, keep in mind that the risk of injury from rays and urchins cannot be completely eliminated if you enter their habitat.
• Call 911 right away if you or your companion has been stung by stingrays or sea urchins, and you feel it could be life-threatening.

Warning

• Even a small sting can be fatal in some cases.
• It is best to exercise extreme caution and seek medical attention to treat stingray and sea urchin wounds. This article is intended for guidance only when timely medical attention cannot be reached or for the wound that is clearly not serious.
• Stingray and sea urchin stings can be extremely painful.
• The infection may return or worsen if the victim does not take the antibiotics for the full length of time; Always follow your doctor's instructions when taking any medicine!