Marine animal stings or bites
Alternative Names
Stings - marine animals; Bites - marine animalsFirst Aid
- Wear gloves, if possible when removing stingers.
- Wipe off stingers or tentacles with a towel.
- Wash the area with salt water.
- Soak the wound in as hot of water as the patient can tolerate for 30-90 minutes, if toldto do so by trained personnel.
- For some types of stings/bites, you may be told to apply vinegar 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 patient to exercise.
- DO NOT give any medication, unless told to do so by a health care provider.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Seek medical help if the person has difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or other body-wide (generalized) symptoms.
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