dangerous marine creatures
DESCRIPTION
about marineTRANSCRIPT
contact irritants
ingested toxins
injected toxins
predators
There are four major types of injury patterns from marine life.
AnemoneCOMMON HABITAT: All Hawaiian waters from tide pools to deep offshore waters.
PREVENTION:Avoid direct contact with skin. While tide pooling use footwear and don't put fingers/hands into holes and crevices.
INJURY MECHANISM: Tentacles have stinging cells that are used for catching prey.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Burning and itching sensation, redness and swelling where contact was made. Severe Reaction: may include shortness of breath; loss of consciousness.
FIRST AID TREATMENT: Rinse thoroughly with fresh or salt water. Apply ice for pain. IMMEDIATE medical attention may be required for severe reactions.
COMMON HABITATOpen waters/bay areas in the
shadows, under floating objects.
PREVENTIONDon't wear shiny objects. They are
attracted to reflective things that look like dinner.
INJURY MECHANISMSharp jagged teeth with strong
tearing jaws.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSSlashed and jagged tears in your
skin.
FIRST AID TREATMENT Stop Get medical help.
Barracuda
COMMON HABITATTide pools, sandy areas, shallow to
deep offshore waters.
PREVENTIONDo not handle (even with gloves),
especially near tip.
INJURY MECHANISMPoisonous, dart-like mechanism near tip used for stunning and killing fish and invertebrates.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSStinging, burning pain, numbness,
coma or cardiac arrest.
FIRST AID TREATMENTScrub the wound. Get medical
help for severe reactions.
Cone Shell
COMMON HABITAT: Very common in all water bodies. Box jellyfish regularly swarm to Hawaii's Leeward shores 9 to 10 days after the full moon. Carybdea alata cause the most "trouble" for humans in Hawai`i.
PREVENTION: Don't go into areas where sighted, or if dead ones are seen on the beach. Observe posted signs.
INJURY MECHANISM: Stinging tentacles.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Stinging, burning, redness, swelling of lymph nodes. Severe reaction: difficulty with breathing and cardiac arrest. Occasional long welt lines.
FIRST AID TREATMENT: Douse with vinegar. Apply ice for pain. IMMEDIATE medical attention may be required for severe reactions.
Box Jellyfish
Moray eel
COMMON HABITATRocky areas, in holes, under rocks, crevices and tide pool
ledges.
PREVENTION
Keep hands out of rocky areas, holes and crevices. Use stick to probe. Dead fish, blood or bait
will bring them out of their holes.
INJURY MECHANISM Razor sharp teeth, powerful jaws.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSBleeding, severe muscle
damage, but more commonly tendon and nerve damage.
FIRST AID TREATMENTStop bleeding with pressure,
clean thoroughly. Get medical help (guard against infection).
Needle fish
Near surface in bay areas and open waters.
PREVENTION Use caution when night lighting/fishing.
INJURY MECHANISM Long pointed jaw.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSPointed jaw may puncture and break off
leaving a puncture wound.
FIRST AID TREATMENT
If point doesn't break off, clean with antiseptic if stabbed. If point breaks off do
not remove it. Stop any bleeding with pressure. Get medical help immediately!
COMMON HABITAT
Portuguese Man-O-War Jellyfish
Open ocean. Bays and beaches during strong onshore winds.
PREVENTIONAvoid areas where they frequent. Usually
found when winds blow in from the ocean onto land. Observe posted signs.
INJURY MECHANISM Long blue, threadlike tentacles.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSStinging, burning, redness, swelling of lymph
nodes. Severe reaction: difficulty with breathing and cardiac arrest. Long welt lines.
FIRST AID TREATMENT
Pick off any visible tentacles. Rinse with fresh or salt water. Apply ice for pain. IMMEDIATE
medical attention may be required for severe reactions.
COMMON HABITAT
Scorpion Fish
COMMON HABITATProtected ledges, rocky areas, and
shallow inshore areas.
PREVENTIONDo not handle. Keep out of crevices and places into which you can't see.
INJURY MECHANISM Toxic dorsal, pelvic, and anal spines.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Punctured skin, extreme pain, throbbing for hours. Sometimes
convulsions and cardiac arrest; but rarely, in Hawai`i, such very serious
reactions.
FIRST AID TREATMENT
Immerse in hot water to tolerance. Get medical help for serious
reactions or for infection.
Sea Urchin
COMMON HABITATShallow reef areas to 100 foot
depths.
PREVENTIONWear foot protection. Don't walk
on rocky areas with poor visibility. Do not handle!
INJURY MECHANISM Long, extremely brittle spines.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSThrobbing pain. Purplish
discoloration.
FIRST AID TREATMENT
Pull out protruding spines. If spines(s) is/are in a joint, nerve, or when wound is
infected - get medical help.
Sharks
Shallow inshore waters to open ocean.
PREVENTION
Avoid murky waters. Leave water if sighted, if you have an open cut or are pulling a string of speared
fish. Try not to look like food.
INJURY MECHANISMJaws and rows of razor sharp
teeth. Abrasions from sandpaper-like skin.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSSevere bleeding, injury to or excision of muscle, bone and
appendages.
FIRST AID TREATMENT
Control bleeding with pressure. Transport to medical facility or call 911 for an ambulance for
severe shark attack bites.
COMMON HABITAT
Stingray
Shallow, sandy areas to deep oceans.
PREVENTIONShuffle feet when walking in shallow
inshore waters. Stay clear of disturbed (swimming) ray. Do Not Molest!
INJURY MECHANISMTail with poisonous barb near base of
body.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSLacerations and severe pain. Punctures in abdomen or chest are very serious - a
medical emergency.
FIRST AID TREATMENT
Stop any bleeding, clean thoroughly with mild soap and water. Immerse in hot
water to tolerance for pain. Get medical treatment for deep cuts and embedded
barb pieces. Do not try to remove pieces yourself - get medical help.
COMMON HABITAT
Surgeonfish
COMMON HABITAT Wave zone to 150 foot depths.
PREVENTION Take care in handling.
INJURY MECHANISMSpine and knife-like razors near
tail.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSThrobbing pain, itching, bleeding
and numbness.
FIRST AID TREATMENT
Stop bleeding with pressure, clean thoroughly with soap and water.
Get medical treatment for deep cuts and embedded spine
pieces. Do not try to remove pieces yourself.
Tube Worm
COMMON HABITAT Shallow reef areas.
PREVENTIONUse protective footwear and
gloves.
INJURY MECHANISMHardened, razor sharp opening to
worm's shelter.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSCircular cut with fragments that may be embedded. Bleeding.
FIRST AID TREATMENT
Stop bleeding with pressure, clean thoroughly with soap and water.
Get medical treatment for deep cuts and embedded pieces. Do
not try to remove pieces yourself.
Box jellyfish have been known to kill people within three minutes, blue-ringed octopus in 30 minutes and pufferfish (eaten) in 17 minutes. You are more likely to die from a box jellyfish sting than a shark attack. Reef sharks are not normally aggressive to humans but should be treated with respect. Do not carry bleeding fish and avoid swimming after dark.