Live Life Team
The different types of marine creatures that a person can be stung by are sea urchins, the weaver fish, jelly fish and stingray. Marine creatures sting a person only when they are disturbed by some action.
Stings of a Jellyfish have long tentacles and are venomous in nature. Sea urchins are creatures that are found in the seaweed and on the rocks. They sting only if someone accidentally steps or stamps on them.
In a similar manner, the weaver fishes are found buried under the sand and their venom is collected in the spines on their backs. These also tend to sting only when a person accidentally steps on them.
Symptoms of Stings caused by Marine creatures
Stings caused by Marine fish have symptoms like swelling or soreness (in the mouth, face or skin), low blood pressure, itching, redness of skin, sweating, difficulty in swallowing, wheezing, slow breathing and nausea.
A Portuguese man-of-water sting is a very agonizing kind of pain. Other than the normal reactions there are symptoms that can crop up in a jellyfish sting. Some of them are breathing problems, fits or seizures, muscle paralysis and stomach pain.
A weaver fish’s sting results in at least 2 hours of severe chronic pain. Spines of the weaver fish may at times need to be removed from the skin. There will also be redness and swelling of the skin for a couple of days.
Treatment of Stings caused by Marine creatures
Stings of marine creature can be treated by oneself or a life guard who is on duty near the sea bodies. If the sting turns reddish and swells up, medical help is required. In most cases, antibiotics are also prescribed for infected patients.
Stings of the sea urchins and Portuguese man-of-war require the tentacles to be removed immediately .This can be taken out with the help of a sticky tape. The sting should also be washed completely with vinegar.
Stings of the weaver fish also have spines that contain venom. As soon as a person is stung by a weaver fish, the spines need to be taken out from the area of infection. The region where the person has been stung by the weaver fish must be washed for 30 minutes by extremely warm water. One should keep in mind to avoid using very hot water on children as their skin is tender and very sensitive. This procedure of washing the wound with hot water kills the venom and prevents it from infecting the skin any further.
Prevention of Stings caused by Marine creatures
To prevent oneself from being stung by any marine creatures one must take care while visiting the beach (or any other sea body).
-Do not swim or play in the water immediately after consuming alcohol
-Have on proper foot wear and clothing while being a part of any water related activities
-Personnel like the fishermen and divers (who help as life-savers) must have the right equipment and have on appropriate attire.
