Stingrays and sea urchins (sea urchins) are non-aggressive marine animals, but can cause painful injuries and are potentially dangerous if disturbed or disturbed. Learn how to recognize stingrays and sea urchins, consider quick treatment steps, and seek information on how to treat minor cuts to limbs at home. In fact, after doing home remedies, you should seek professional medical help to deal with stingrays and sea urchins. Injuries to the abdomen, chest, neck or face should be considered serious, even life-threatening, and should seek immediate medical attention.
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Part 1 of 4: Recognizing and Treating Stingray Wounds
Step 1. Watch for common symptoms
Stingray stings can be accompanied by symptoms (some mild, some serious) as mentioned below:
- There's a stab wound. The size of the hole caused by the sting (thorn) can be quite large and if observed the edges may be jagged. Stingrays rarely leave their stingers, but in rare cases the stinger may break off and remain in the wound.
- The victim will be immediately hit by excruciating pain that spreads from the wound site.
- The injured area will become very swollen.
- Bleeding stab wound.
- The color of the skin around the wound initially looks bluish, then turns red.
- The victim sweats abnormally.
- The victim is faint, weak, or dizzy.
- The victim had a headache.
- The victim is experiencing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- The victim experienced shortness of breath / panting.
- Victims experience seizures, muscle cramps or paralysis.
Step 2. Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear serious
The following symptoms are an indication that medical help is needed immediately:
- Wounds occur in the abdomen, chest, neck, or face of the victim.
- Blood gushed from the wound.
- The victim has difficulty breathing, experiences itching, nausea, a choking feeling in the throat, fast heart rate, dizziness, or loss of consciousness.
Step 3. Lift the victim from the water and take him to a safe place
Lay the victim on the ground if the incident occurs near the shore, or on the floor or bench of the boat if the incident occurs on the high seas and a ship is nearby.
- Getting the victim out of the water quickly and safely is essential to prevent further injury.
- If the victim vomits, tilt her body so she doesn't choke.
Step 4. Stop the bleeding
The best way to do this is to apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or towel.
- If you don't have a clean cloth or towel, a T-shirt or other piece of clothing will do.
- Apply just enough pressure to stop or significantly slow blood loss. If the victim remains conscious, ask him if the pressure is tolerable or if the pain is getting worse.
Step 5. Remove the burr with tweezers if medical treatment is not available
If the stinging thorn still remains in the wound, removing it from the wound will stop more venom from being released into the wound. However, the stinging spines have teeth and will cut the skin when removed, releasing more venom into the wound. In addition, if the burr removal process is carried out by someone who is not a trained medical professional, there is a possibility of the thorn breaking within the wound, and that means the doctor will have to treat the wound one more time to remove any remaining broken thorn. Very large spines will actually close the wound and prevent heavy bleeding. For this reason, you should only try to remove the spines if medical treatment is not immediately available, for example you are in the middle of the sea and far from the beach.
- If tweezers are not available, you can use long muzzle pliers to remove the thorns. If possible, choose a tool that is relatively clean so that it does not have the potential to transmit the infectious agent into the wound.
- Take care that the thorns that have been removed from the wound do not injure yourself or others. Remove the thorns by placing them in an empty bottle and sealing them well or wrapping the spines in several layers of plastic bags. This will prevent the thorn from accidentally injuring someone else.
- Do not try to remove the thorns from the wound without using hand protection. If you don't have a tool to remove the thorns, it's best to wait until a medical professional can do it. Even thick gloves can't eliminate the risk of getting pricked by thorns when you try to remove them. So you better be very careful.
Part 2 of 4: Cleaning Wounds and Reducing Discomfort from Stingray Wounds
Step 1. Treat the wound as you would a regular cut
First, clean the wound with warm fresh water, soap, and/or an antiseptic solution. You can use cold water if warm water is not available, but the victim will feel more pain. If the victim is in severe pain, you should not do this step.
If you can't get clean water or an antiseptic solution, it's best to leave the wound alone until you can wash it. Using dirty water will actually make things worse because it increases the risk of infection in the victim. This will be very dangerous if the wound is deep enough
Step 2. Soak the injured body part
This step should be done as soon as the victim arrives home or at a medical facility. Use very warm or hot water and soak the injured body part for 30-90 minutes.
- Make sure you use a bath tub and clean fresh water to soak the injured body part. This will help prevent an increased risk of infection.
- Warm water can break down the protein structure in the poison. Try to use water with a maximum temperature of 45 °C.
Step 3. Keep the wound clean
This condition will speed up healing and prevent infection. Wash the injured area at least once a day and apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment to the wound, unless your doctor/other medical professional advises otherwise.
Antibiotic ointments that are usually used to treat cuts, scrapes or punctures include Neosporin or Polysporin. You can also look for generic versions at drugstores or pharmacies. Ointment can only be used for external treatment only
Step 4. Take anti-inflammatory drugs
Over-the-counter drugs (drugs that can be obtained without a doctor's prescription) work to reduce swelling and pain. Skip this step if the victim is vomiting or allergic to any such medication.
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs are medications that contain ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen. These drugs are available in a variety of brands (such as Advil, Motrin, and Aleve) and can be found at most drug stores.
- Be aware that anti-inflammatory drugs will not speed up the healing process. Anti-inflammatory drugs only work to reduce pain and discomfort.
- Keep in mind that stingray venom is particularly thought to have an anticoagulant effect, especially in large doses. If the site of the wound bleeds and shows no signs of stopping, or if the stab wound is very severe, it is best not to give anti-inflammatory drugs as this can reduce the clotting further. Instead, go to the hospital for immediate treatment. There they can give injections of local pain relief and topical anesthetics.
Step 5. See a doctor
Even if the wound is not severe and the pain subsides quickly, the victim should still receive medical care. It is easier to treat these kinds of wounds if they are treated early to avoid complications later on and to eliminate certain risks.
- The doctor may order medical imaging tests (medical imaging) to make sure that no broken thorns remain in the wound. This is the only way to ensure that no dangerous object remains on the victim's body. The slightest fracture of the spine has the potential to cause infection.
- To prevent infection (especially from wounds that occur in salt water), your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Always take your doctor's prescribed antibiotics as directed, even if you think the wound is healing. Otherwise, you may invite an infection or make an existing infection worse.
- Your doctor may prescribe pain medication if over-the-counter medications don't help. Never take a prescription pain reliever more than the recommended dose. For your safety, strictly comply with any additional instructions given, such as which foods or drinks are recommended or should be avoided while taking the drug.
Part 3 of 4: Recognizing and Treating Wounds from Sea Urchin Stings
Step 1. Check the situation around the victim
A strong indication that the victim's wound was caused by a sea urchin sting is the presence of sea urchins that you can see around the victim. This creature cannot escape quickly. If someone is stung by a sea urchin, usually the animal can be found nearby as affirmation.
This information is not critical to the victim's safety or health, but it can reassure you that the victim's injuries were caused by sea urchins
Step 2. Watch for common symptoms
Sores from sea urchins can vary widely in severity, but generally cause symptoms such as those listed below.
- The wound site contains thorn fragments embedded in the skin. These spines often cause a visible bluish tinge under the skin, exposing the site of a wound even from a minor sting.
- The victim immediately experienced severe pain at the site of the wound.
- The site of the wound will swell.
- The skin around the wound is red or purple-brown.
- The victim experiences joint discomfort or muscle pain.
- The victim becomes weak or exhausted.
Step 3. Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms look serious
Even minor or seemingly minor injuries from a sea urchin sting can be life threatening, especially if the victim is allergic to sea urchin venom. The following conditions are strong indications that the victim requires urgent medical treatment:
- There are several deep stab wounds.
- The wound occurred on the victim's stomach, chest, neck, or face.
- Victims feel fatigue, muscle pain, weakness, trauma, paralysis, or respiratory failure.
Step 4. Lift the victim from the water and take him to a safe place
Lay the victim on the ground if the incident occurs near the beach. Most sea urchin stings occur when the victim accidentally steps on a sea urchin with their bare feet. Therefore, most sea urchin stings occur in shallow water near the coast.
- As with injuries caused by other sea creatures, getting the victim out of the water as soon as possible and bringing him or her to safety is essential to prevent further injury.
- Place the injured body part in a higher position to prevent sand or dirt from entering the wound, especially if the wound is on the sole of the victim's foot.
Step 5. Arrange for transport to move the victim to a safe location, indoors
If the victim and/or friends decide that she does not need emergency services, someone should take her to her home, hospital, hotel, or other nearby location so that the wound can be treated further.
- Do not allow the victim to drive the vehicle alone as additional symptoms may develop after the initial injury and cause him or her to lose consciousness or experience more intense pain.
- If transportation is not available or no one knows where the hospital or hotel is, call emergency services (phone 112). Delaying treating the victim's wounds is not a wise move because it can be dangerous.
Part 4 of 4: Cleaning Wounds and Reducing Discomfort from Sea Urchin Stings
Step 1. Soak the injured body part in very warm or hot water for 30-90 minutes
This will neutralize the venom and reduce pain, and soften the skin so that the thorn is easier to remove.
- Use a clean container for soaking and clean fresh water for soaking the injured body part. This will help prevent the risk of further infection.
- Soaking the wound won't speed healing, but it will reduce the pain and make the burr removal process easier.
- Do not dry the injured area. Perform the burr removal process while the skin is still wet and soft.
- You can also soak the wound in a vinegar solution. Vinegar can neutralize toxins and soothe wounds.
Step 2. Remove the large/clear thorns from the wound using tweezers
This will stop the release of the poison further into the wound and will relieve the victim's pain.
- If tweezers are not available, long muzzle pliers or similar equipment can be used to remove large spines from the wound. Choose a clean tool (preferably sterile) so that it does not have the potential to transmit infectious agents to the victim's wound.
- Remove the thorns by placing them in an empty bottle and sealing them well, or wrapping them in several layers of plastic bags before throwing them in the trash.
- Do not use bare hands to remove the thorns from the wound. If no equipment is available to remove the spines, it is best to seek medical attention.
Step 3. Use the shaver gently to remove any smaller/invisible barbs
Apply shaving cream to the prickly area and scrape off any thorns on the surface of the skin with a razor. Even tiny spines can release toxins into the skin and can cause intense pain if not removed immediately.
- Do not use menthol shaving cream because menthol has a cooling effect on the skin and can make the pain worse or irritate the wound.
- You can soak the injured body part in a vinegar solution before starting shaving to remove the thorns. The vinegar will help dissolve the smaller spines and make the process of removing the poison easier.
Step 4. Gently rub the injured area with warm water and soap
This will help clean the wound and remove any burrs on the skin's surface. Flush the injured area thoroughly with warm fresh water after washing.
- You can use cold water, but the victim will feel more pain. Warm water has a detoxifying effect.
- An antiseptic liquid can be used instead of soap, but is usually not necessary.
Step 5. Take anti-inflammatory drugs
This medication will reduce swelling and pain. Skip this step if the victim is vomiting or allergic to the drug.
- Be aware that anti-inflammatory drugs will not speed up the healing process. This drug is an over-the-counter drug that only works to reduce pain and discomfort.
- Do not give the drug more than the recommended dose for the victim's age and body weight. Even over-the-counter drugs can be dangerous if misused.
Step 6. See a doctor
Even if the wound is not severe and the pain subsides quickly, the victim must still receive medical care so that he can heal properly and avoid various complications that may occur.
- The doctor may order medical imaging tests to make sure that no broken thorns remain in the wound. Sea urchin spine fractures tend to push deeper into the skin over time and can often have an impact on the nerves or surrounding tissue and be a source of complications that should not be taken lightly.
- Swelling and pain that doesn't subside after five days can indicate an infection or a thorn fragment deep in the wound. Only a doctor who has the competence to deal with this problem and can prescribe antibiotics to eradicate the infection. Make sure you take your prescribed medication as directed, even if you think the wound is healing.
- Although rare, minor surgery may be required to remove any thorn fragments that remain deep in the wound.
- Your doctor may prescribe pain medication if the pain gets worse or if surgery is necessary.
Tips
- Be careful when walking in shallow water and avoid stingrays and sea urchins if you see them. However, please note that it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk of stingrays and sea urchins if you enter the habitat of these animals.
- Call 112 if you or your partner are stung by a stingray or sea urchin and feel the situation is potentially life threatening.
Warning
- Even the slightest sting can be potentially life-threatening in certain situations.
- It is better to exercise extreme caution and seek professional medical care when dealing with a stingray or sea urchin. These guidelines should only be followed if the situation does not allow for immediate medical care or the injury is not too severe.
- The infection may recur or worsen if the prescribed antibiotics are not taken until they are finished. Always follow the doctor's instructions when taking any medication!
- Stingrays and sea urchins can be very painful.
