Health encyclopaedia

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Treatment of Stings, marine creatures

If you are stung by a weever fish or stingray you should remove the spines and wash the affected parts of your body in very hot water for about 30 minutes to kill the venom. Use the hottest water you can possibly tolerate without scalding yourself. You should be careful when treating children who have been stung as their skin is very sensitive to hot water.

If a Portuguese man-of-war or a sea urchin stings you, you should bathe the wound in vinegar, and remove any tentacles with sticky tape.

If you cannot remove the stings yourself you should see a doctor or nurse for help. As an immediate measure you could seek advice from a lifeguard if there is one nearby.

If the wound becomes red or inflamed it may be infected and you may need antibiotics.

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