Marine Animal Bite or Sting

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KEY POINTS

• Many kinds of marine animals bite or sting. Some bites cause serious wounds, and other bites or stings deliver venom.
• If you aren’t sure what stung or bit you, seek medical care. Don’t try to treat the wound yourself.
• To prevent bites and stings, avoid areas where there may be dangerous marine animals. If you see jellyfish or sharks, get out of the water.

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What marine animal bites and stings are dangerous?

Many kinds of marine animals bite or sting. Some deliver venom through their teeth, tentacles, spines, or skin. For example:

• Jellyfish and Portuguese man-of-war have long, stinging tentacles.
• Stingrays, scorpion fish, and stonefish have venom in the fin along the spine, or on the tail.
• Sea urchins, sea anemones, and coral have venom in the skin or barbs.
• California cones are snails that have a tube on the small end that contains a tooth that delivers venom.
• Electric eels may cause shocks when touched.
• Blue-ringed octopus, found only in the South Pacific, is one of the most deadly sea animals. The octopus releases venom from the mouth in the middle of its underside. The bite can paralyze within 10 minutes and cause death in 24 hours.

Sharks and barracudas have large, sharp teeth that can cause serious or life-threatening wounds.

Most venomous marine animals in the US are found along the southern Atlantic, California, and Gulf of Mexico coasts.

What are the symptoms?

When marine animal releases venom into the bite, symptoms may include:

• A burning feeling that may turn into severe pain
• Muscle cramps or twitching
• Numbness or tingling
• Dizziness or fainting
• Trouble breathing
• Heavy sweating
• Weakness or loss of coordination
• Rapid pulse or chest pain
• Nausea and vomiting

Barbs or pieces of the spine left in the wound can get infected. Signs of infection include new or worsening redness, swelling, pain, warmth, or drainage.

What is the first aid for nonpoisonous stings or bites?

A nonpoisonous sting or bite may be painful, but it is not typically life threatening unless you have an allergic reaction.

To apply first aid for nonpoisonous stings or bites:

• Get out of the water, or help the injured person get out of the water.
• Wash the bite with seawater. Fresh water may make pain worse. Do not use urine or meat tenderizer on the bite.
• Remove spines or tentacle pieces with tweezers, a credit card, or with fingers (wear gloves).
• Put a cotton ball soaked with vinegar on a jellyfish or sea urchin sting to stop the continued release of venom. Do not use vinegar on a man-of-war sting.
• Put the injured area in hot water for at least 30 minutes to relieve pain. Be careful not to use water so hot that it burns.
• Do not cut the bite. This may cause more injury.
• Do not try to use a suction device or your mouth to draw venom out of the wound.
• Do not use ice or any other type of cooling on the bite. This can cause more injury.
• Do not raise the injured body part above the level of the heart. This could make the venom spread to the rest of the body more quickly.
• Do not exercise, or keep the injured person from exercising, for a while. It may help to lie down for 20 to 30 minutes.

If you were stung by a blue-ringed octopus, or aren’t sure what bit or stung you, seek immediate medical care. Don’t try to treat the wound yourself. Get medical care if you have signs of infection. Follow the full course of treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. Ask your healthcare provider:

• How long it will take to recover
• If there are activities you should avoid and when you can return to your normal activities
• How to take care of yourself at home
• What symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if you have them

Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup.

How can I help prevent stings or bites?

If possible, avoid areas where there may be dangerous marine animals. Pay attention to signs warning about jellyfish or sharks.

Before you visit a new ocean area:

• Learn about the animals that may live in the area.
• Learn the proper first aid.
• Know where the closest medical facility is in case of an emergency.

When you are at the beach:

• Read posted signs warning of dangerous marine animals.
• Don’t dive or swim in the ocean alone.
• Don’t touch dead marine animals. The spines or tentacles can still release venom.
• Don’t reach into or under rocks on the beach or underwater.
• Wear shoes in shallow water.
• If you see a shark, get out of the water as calmly as you can.
• Stay away from fishing boats.

You can get more information from:

• National Poison Control Center hotline
  1-800-222-1222
  http://www.aapcc.org