Ask DAN: How Do I Treat Common Marine-Life Injuries?

This year, my wife and I are getting ourselves a very special Christmas present – retirement. We’re excited to be able to spend more time aboard our boat, and we plan to do plenty of diving, snorkeling and swimming along the way. Before we set off on our first big adventure, we want to make sure we’re prepared to handle emergencies at sea. In particular, we want to know what to do in case one of us is injured by a marine animal. Any tips?

The best way to manage injury is to prevent it from occurring in the first place, which means that you should be researching native marine life at every destination and learning how to avoid contact when possible. In the event contact occurs, being able to respond quickly and appropriately can make a difference in the injured person’s comfort and recovery time.

This article will cover the more common injuries. For a more comprehensive guide to managing hazardous marine life incidents, please visit dan.org/health.

JELLYFISH
Jellyfish are a type of cnidarian that inject venom through stinging cells called nematocysts. If stung by one, follow these procedures:
• Without rubbing or touching the affected area, apply household vinegar for no fewer than 30 seconds to neutralize any remaining unfired nematocysts before attempting removal.
• Remove tentacle fragments with gloved hands or tweezers.
• Wash the area with seawater or saline. Using a syringe with a steady stream of water might help remove any tentacle remains.
• Apply heat, measured to the victim and caregiver’s tolerance, to provide some pain relief and help denature remaining toxin.

LIONFISH
Although generally docile, lionfish have sharp spines that can cause very painful and sometimes complicated wounds. If stung by a lionfish, follow these procedures:
• Rinse the wound with clean, fresh water.
• Remove any obvious foreign material using gloved hands or tweezers.
• Control bleeding if needed. It is acceptable to allow small punctures to bleed briefly immediately after a sting to decrease venom load.
• Apply heat, measured to the victim and caregiver’s tolerance, to provide some pain relief and help denature remaining toxin.
• Apply bandaging.
• Seek professional medical evaluation.

BITES
Most human-associated marine-animal bites occur when animals feel threatened or humans are mistaken as prey. While serious bites are rare, all bites are at a high risk for infection and should receive prompt cleaning. If bitten by a marine animal, follow these procedures:
• Control bleeding. In most cases, applying direct pressure using an absorbent pad or dressing and gloved hands will be sufficient.
• Secure the pad with a clean or sterile bandage, wrapped tightly enough to maintain direct pressure without preventing circulation.
• Once bleeding has stopped, thoroughly clean the wound with soap and fresh water, and monitor for signs of infection.
• Seek professional medical evaluation without delay.

Learning these simple techniques is not sufficient for more-serious concerns related to contact with hazardous organisms. Before you depart, consider taking the DAN First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries course. For more information on first-aid training or marine life injuries, visit dan.org.