Marine animal stings or bites

Alternative names:

stings or bites - marine

First aid:

• Keep the victim quiet and still.
• Wear gloves, if possible when removing stingers.
• Wipe off stingers or tentacles with a towel or sand.
• Wash the area with salt water.
• Soak the wound in as hot of water as the patient can tolerate for 30-90 minutes, if instructed to do so by trained personnel.
• For some types of stings/bites, you may be instructed to apply alcohol or a meat tenderizer/water solution to neutralize the venom.

Do not:

• DO NOT attempt to remove stingers without protecting your own hands.
• DO NOT raise the affected body part above the level of the heart.
• DO NOT allow the victim to exercise.
• DO NOT give any medication, unless told to do so by a physician.

Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if:

• the victim has generalized symptoms
• the victim has difficulty breathing
• there is uncontrollable bleeding