WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
Among the many marine animals with painful stings or
bites are the eel, jellyfish, man-of-war, stingray, stonefish,
lionfish, scorpionfish, octopus, sea urchin, and coral. Some
stings are poisonous and even deadly, so it's important to have
a bad sting checked by a doctor.
Signs/Symptoms
Possible symptoms include pain,
swelling, redness, itching, or blisters at the site of the bite
or sting. You may also become nauseated or vomit. Other
possible symptoms include a headache, chills, fever, sweating,
and tingling or numbness. Difficult breathing, fainting, and
seizures are signs of a life-threatening sting.
Care
If the wound is small and doesn't
cause a lot of problems, you can take care of it at home. Clean
the area, pat it dry, and try not to scratch it. For more
troublesome wounds, go to the doctor. You may need a tetanus
shot and medicine for infection, pain, or swelling. If
you have trouble breathing, become faint, have convulsions, or
develop a tight feeling in your chest or throat, you will
probably need hospitalization. You may also need to be put in
the hospital if the wound is large or infected, or if you lost
a lot of blood.
WHAT YOU SHOULD
DO
-
Try to keep the wound raised
above the level of your heart to reduce pain and swelling.
Do not use the wounded area too much until it starts
healing.
-
Your doctor will tell you how
long to leave the bandage on. Keep it clean and
dry.
-
To change the bandage, unwrap
it slowly and carefully. If it sticks to the wound, soak it
in lukewarm water. Rinse the wound off and pat dry with a
clean towel.
-
Clean the wound 2 to 3 times
a day either with a solution of half hydrogen peroxide and
half water or with mild soap and water.
-
Return for a wound recheck in
a few days.
-
If you get stitches, your
doctor will tell you when to have them
removed.
-
If you are given a tetanus
shot, your arm may get swollen, red, and warm to the touch
at the site of the injection. This is a normal reaction to
the medicine in the shot.
-
To keep from getting stung
again:
-
Be alert for potentially
dangerous marine creatures whenever going into the
water.
-
When swimming in the ocean,
do not touch the marine life unless you can identify it
and are sure it can do you no harm.
-
Do not dive or swim in the
ocean alone.
Call Your Doctor
If...
-
Your wound does not stop
bleeding.
Seek Care Immediately
If...
-
You show signs of infection
(increased pain or soreness, swelling, redness, pus, a bad
smell, or red streaks coming from the wound).
-
You have a high
temperature.
-
You have numbness or swelling
below the wound, or you cannot move the joint below the
wound.
-
You become dizzy or weak,
have trouble breathing, or develop diarrhea, headaches, or
seizures. You may be having an allergic reaction to the
bite.
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