Marine Life
The British coastline is full of marine life ranging from sea birds, jelly fish, seals, porpoises and dolphins. Depending on where you are at the seaside, these are all a regular sighting. These are all relatively safe however it is advised you do not approach any larger marine mammals. Seals regularly haul themselves out on our coasts and is part of their normal behaviour however if you see a stranded marine animal. If you would like to find out what to do and who to contract if you come across a stranded marine animal, visit the British Divers Marine Life Rescue for more information. Marine life that you may come into contact with that may cause injury are listed below, with the suggested treatment option.
Jelly FishJellyfish float near the surface and have long, thin tentacles on the underside of their bodies. These tentacles are covered with small poisonous sacks called nematocysts which, if touched, produce a nasty sting. During the warmer months, large groups of jellyfish have become increasingly common around our coastline and washed up on our beaches.
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Weever FishThis is a small fish about 15 cm long with venomous spines along its dorsal fin. It's found quite commonly around the British Isles in warm weather. It may hide under the sand at low tide and is very well camouflaged. Being sandy in colour, they usually lie buried in the sand on the seabed.
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Sea UrchinsSea urchins are small round sea creatures with a bony shell covered in spines. They're usually found in the shallows, on rocks and in seaweed. Their spines are hard, sharp and can cause puncture wounds. Between the spines are small organs, containing a poison that's released as a defence mechanism.
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Treatment
Most jellyfish stings are mild and don't require treatment, or if required, you can treat them yourself. Someone stung by a jellyfish should be treated out of the water. Any remaining tentacles should be removed using tweezers or a clean stick (wear gloves if they're available). Applying an ice pack to the affected area helps to reduce pain and inflammation.
Dial 999 if there are severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or chest pain, or if a large or sensitive area of the body such as the face or genitals has been stung. |
For Weever Fish stings, soak the puncture site for 30-90 minutes in water as hot as the injured person can tolerate. Repeat as necessary to control the pain. The heat is known to make some of the venom (toxins) inactive. It may also help to reduce some of the spasm that occurs in the surrounding blood vessels. Vinegar and urine show no benefit. Seek medical assistance is strongly suggested if you've been stung while in the sea. Dial 999 if symptoms include chest pain, breathing problems, fits or seizures.
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If stung by a Sea Urchin, immerse the affected area for 30-90 minutes in water as hot as the injured person can tolerate. Use tweezers to remove any large spines in the wound then flush with fresh water. If signs of infection, visit your GP. Seek immediate medical care if the patient develops any breathing problems or chest pain or if spines that enter at or near a joint may require surgical removal.
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If you or someone else has been stung in the sea, get help from someone with first aid training, such as a lifeguard. All stings are painful and cause swelling, inflammation or raised areas of skin known as welts. Other symptoms include nausea, but this depends on what has stung you. Further medical assistance may be needed if the symptoms of a sting are severe and very painful. After being stung some people may have a severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock, which can sometimes be fatal. Any adverse allergic reaction should be treated as a medical emergency. Dial 999 to request an ambulance.