Scorpion fish

Home treatment:

Wash the area with salt water. Remove any foreign material at the wound site. Contact the emergency room. Soak the wound in as hot of water as person can tolerate for 30 to 90 minutes, if instructed to do so.

Before calling emergency:

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• identification of the marine animal causing the sting if possible
• the time stung

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital and advise of any appropriate first aid that can be administered immediately.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• Wash the area.
• Remove any possible foreign material.
• Soak the wound.
• Remove any remaining material.
• Give tetanus immunization if necessary.
• Give antibiotic if necessary.
• Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

Recovery will probably depend on how much toxin the patient received, any sensitivity to the toxin, and how soon adequate treatment can be obtained.