Common parsnips and sea urchins are peaceful marine animals, but they can inflict painful and potentially dangerous injuries when frightened or disturbed. Learn to recognize their stings, suggest first aid procedures, and provide useful information for home treatment of minor limb injuries. Even after taking steps to treat injuries at home, it is always best to see a doctor for these types of stings. Those involving the abdomen, chest, neck or face should be considered serious, even life-threatening, and should be referred for immediate medical attention.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Recognizing and Treating a Parsnip Sting
Step 1. Look for common symptoms
Injuries caused by this animal may be accompanied by symptoms (some mild, others more severe) such as those listed below:
- The presence of a puncture wound. The hole left by the sharp spike can be quite large and have jagged edges. The animal rarely leaves the tip in the victim's body, but on occasion it can break in the wound.
- The victim feels immediate and intense pain at the site of the injury;
- The wound swells quite a lot;
- The hole bleeds;
- The surrounding skin initially turns blue, then changes to red;
- The victim sweats abnormally;
- Become weak, feel dizzy, or pass out
- Headache occurs;
- The individual who has been stung experiences nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
- Complain about difficulty in breathing;
- Have convulsions or muscle cramps or paralysis.
Step 2. Call for help immediately if symptoms are severe
The situations listed below are all indicators of the need for prompt medical intervention:
- The sting is found on the abdomen, chest, neck, or face;
- The bleeding is copious;
- The victim complains of difficulty in breathing, itching, nausea, throat tightness, rapid heartbeat, dizziness or fainting.
Step 3. Take the victim out of the water and to a safe place
Have her lie on the ground, if the accident happened near the shore, or on the bottom of the boat or on the seat, if you are out in the open sea and there is a boat nearby.
- Getting out of the water quickly and safely is an important precaution to avoid other injuries.
- If the victim is vomiting, turn them to their side to keep them from choking.
Step 4. Stop the bleeding
The best thing to do is apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or towel.
- If you don't have a cloth, use a shirt or other piece of clothing.
- Apply only the amount of pressure necessary to stop or significantly slow blood loss. If the individual is conscious, ask them if they can tolerate the pressure or if it causes them more pain.
Step 5. Remove the sting with tweezers if medical help is not immediately available
If the tip of the stingray's tail is left in the wound, remove it to prevent other toxins from being released into the victim's body. However, the sting is serrated and may cut through the skin even further during extraction, releasing even more poison into the wound. In addition, the attempt made by a person without medical training could cause the sting to rupture, later forcing the healthcare professional to cut even more tissues to retrieve the fragments. A very large sting can actually close the wound and prevent severe bleeding. For these reasons, you should only try to extract it if there is no possibility of getting immediate medical help, for example when you are at sea and very far from the coast.
- If you don't have tweezers, you can use fine-tipped pliers. If possible, choose a relatively clean tool so you don't get pathogens into the wound.
- Be careful not to prick yourself and not to injure other people with the sting once it is removed from the victim's body. Dispose of it by putting it in an empty bottle that has to be closed with the cap or wrap it in different plastic bags. These precautions prevent someone else from accidentally coming into contact with the poisonous tip of the stingray's tail.
- Do not use your bare hands for extraction. If you do not have any tools available, it is better to wait for the rescue. Thick gloves cannot eliminate the risk of being stung when removing the sting, so you need to be very careful.
Part 2 of 4: Clean the Wound and Relieve the Pain caused by the Parsnip Sting
Step 1. Treat the injury like a typical laceration
This means washing it with clean fresh water and soap or an antiseptic cleaner. You can also use cold water if there is no alternative, but the process will be more painful for the victim. If he is already in severe pain, this may not be feasible.
If you don't have clean water or a disinfectant, it's best not to disturb the wound until it can be washed. Using dirty water creates more harm than good, increasing the risk of infection which, in the case of a very deep wound, could be very dangerous
Step 2. Immerse the affected body part
This step should be done once the injured person has returned home or reached a hospital. Use very hot water and let the wound soak for thirty to ninety minutes.
- Remember to use a clean container, fresh, clean water to wet the wound to avoid further risk of infection.
- Hot water is able to denature the proteins of the poison; make sure it has a temperature of 45 ° C.
Step 3. Keep the wound clean
By doing so, you promote healing and ward off infections. Unless your doctor has instructed you otherwise, wash the area at least once a day and apply antibiotic ointment.
A very common one is Aureomycin. However, your pharmacist can recommend the most suitable product for you. Remember that the ointments are for topical use only
Step 4. Give an anti-inflammatory medicine
Over-the-counter medications (those available without a prescription) can reduce pain and swelling. Skip this step if the victim is vomiting or allergic to this type of medicine.
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories are those that contain ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetisalicylic acid; they are sold under various trade names (such as Brufen, Aleve, Vivin C, Aspirin) and can be found in all pharmacies.
- Remember that they cannot speed up the healing process, they only provide relief from pain and discomfort.
- Parsnip poison in particular is believed to have anticoagulant effects, especially in large doses. If the wound is bleeding profusely, the bleeding shows no sign of slowing and the sting is particularly severe, do not give these drugs to the victim, as they further reduce blood clotting capacity. Instead, quickly take her to the emergency room to receive appropriate treatment, painkiller injections, and topical anesthetics.
Step 5. Go to the doctor
Even if it is a minor injury and the pain subsides quickly, the person who has been stung should see a doctor. It is always best to treat this type of injury early to prevent complications and risks in the future.
- Your doctor may order imaging tests if you are concerned that there are pieces of quill in the laceration. This is the only way to make sure there are no dangerous foreign bodies left inside. Even the smallest fragment could cause an infection.
- Antibiotics are administered precisely to avoid infections (especially if the accident occurred at sea). Always complete the course of therapy indicated by your doctor, even if you believe the wound has healed. Otherwise, the infection could worsen or recur.
- If over-the-counter pain relievers are insufficient, stronger ones will be prescribed. Never exceed the recommended dose; For your safety, always obey your medical instructions to the letter (for example, do not eat or drink when taking your medications).
Part 3 of 4: Recognizing and Treating a Sea Urchin Sting
Step 1. Check the area around the victim immediately
An obvious clue that the person stepped on a sea urchin is the presence of the animal nearby. These creatures don't run away quickly; if a person has been stung, you can usually see "the culprit" in the surrounding area.
This step is not crucial to the victim's well-being or safety, but it allows you to be reasonably sure of the dynamics of the accident
Step 2. Look for common symptoms
Injuries from sea urchins vary greatly in severity, but the most common symptoms are those listed below.
- The site of the injury contains fragments of thorns embedded in the skin. These fragments often have a bluish tint visible under the skin, which reveals the presence of even the smallest ones;
- The victim complains of immediate and excruciating pain in the affected area;
- The area is swollen;
- The skin around the sting is red or purplish-blue;
- The stung person has muscle or joint pain;
- The victim becomes weak or exhausted.
Step 3. Seek immediate medical help if symptoms are severe
Even a small or seemingly mild wound from a sea urchin can become fatal if the victim is allergic to the poison. Symptoms that make you realize that prompt professional intervention is needed are described below:
- There are many deep stings;
- The lesion is located on the abdomen, chest, neck or face;
- The victim experiences fatigue, muscle aches, weakness, shock, paralysis or respiratory failure.
Step 4. Remove the victim from the water and bring them to safety
Have her spread out on the ground if the accident happened near the shore. Typically, the injuries are caused by the victim himself inadvertently stepping on the hedgehog with bare feet. For this reason, we often work close to the shore or the beach.
- Just like with any other injury caused by marine animals, it is essential to get out of the water quickly and safely so as not to cause further damage.
- Lift the part of the body that was punctured to prevent sand or dirt from entering the injury, especially if it is the sole of the foot.
Step 5. Arrange transportation to a safe, enclosed location
If the victim or their friends feel that an ambulance is not needed, someone will need to accompany them to their home, hotel, hospital or other nearby location where additional care can be provided.
- Do not let the victim drive the car, as they may develop other symptoms, faint or experience even more severe pain.
- If there is no transportation available or no one knows where to find a hotel or hospital, call the ambulance (118). You don't have to risk delaying treatment.
Part 4 of 4: Clean the Wound and Relieve the Pain caused by a Sea Urchin Sting
Step 1. Immerse the injured body part in very hot water for 30-90 minutes
In this way, you neutralize the poison and keep the pain in check, as well as softening the skin to facilitate the extraction of the spines.
- Use a clean container and filtered fresh water for this to reduce the risk of infection.
- Dipping the toe area does not promote healing, but it does offer some relief and allows you to extract the fragments of the spines more easily.
- Do not dry the area, but immediately take care of the extraction of the spines, while the epidermis is still wet and very soft.
- You can also soak the wound in vinegar which neutralizes the poison and relieves discomfort.
Step 2. Remove larger pieces of thorns with tweezers
This way, you prevent other toxins from being released into the victim's body, also reducing suffering.
- If you don't have tweezers, take fine-tipped pliers or another similar tool. Choose a clean tool (preferably sterilized) to avoid introducing potential pathogens into the sting.
- Throw the thorns into an empty bottle and close it; alternatively, wrap it in several plastic bags before throwing it in the trash.
- Do not remove the quills with your bare hands. If you don't have any tools available, it's best to call for help.
Step 3. Gently scrape off the smaller, less visible fragments
Smear a shaving cream on the affected area and then carefully shave it using a safety razor. Even the smallest fragments release the poison into the victim's body and can cause severe pain if not extracted.
- Do not use menthol shaving cream, as it cools the skin and may cause more pain or irritate the skin.
- You can soak the area to be treated in vinegar before scraping off the thorns. By doing so, you dissolve the smaller fragments and facilitate the removal of poisonous agents.
Step 4. Gently scrub the area with warm, soapy water
This procedure cleans the wound and removes any thorns left on the surface. Rinse your skin thoroughly with fresh, warm water after washing.
- You can also use cold water, but be aware that it causes more pain; the heat has a neutralizing effect on the poison.
- Antiseptic cleaners are good substitutes for soap, but they are not essential.
Step 5. Administer anti-inflammatory drugs
These medicines reduce both pain and swelling, but do not give them to the victim if they are vomiting or allergic to the active ingredients.
- Remember that anti-inflammatories do not speed up the healing process, they simply provide relief from pain and discomfort.
- Never exceed the recommended doses based on the age and weight of the person. Even over-the-counter medicines can become dangerous if taken in large quantities.
Step 6. Go to the doctor
Even if the injury is not serious and the pain subsides quickly, the victim should seek medical attention to ensure good healing and avert a number of potential complications.
- Your doctor may recommend imaging tests to make sure there are no residues of thorns in the wound. The bits of sea urchin quills tend to penetrate the skin over time and may affect surrounding nerves or tissues. They should therefore be considered as possible sources of complications.
- If the swelling and pain persist for more than five days, it could indicate the presence of quill residues in the deep tissues. Only doctors can treat lesions of this type and can prescribe antibiotics to fight infections. Always finish the course of antibiotics, even if you think the wound has healed.
- Rarely, minor surgery may be required to remove all debris.
- If the pain is very severe or an operation is required, analgesics are prescribed.
Advice
- Be very careful when walking in shallow water, avoid sea urchins and stingrays when you see them. However, know that it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of being stung if you enter the habitat of these animals.
- If you or a friend are stung by a parsnip or sea urchin and you have the feeling that this is a life-threatening injury, call 911.
Warnings
- It is always best to be very cautious and seek medical attention when dealing with marine animal stings. The advice described in this article is only valid when immediate medical attention is not possible or when the victim clearly shows minor damage.
- Under certain circumstances, even seemingly minor stings can become fatal.
- Parsnip and sea urchin stings are excruciating.
- If you do not scrupulously respect the entire course of antibiotics, the infections can recur or worsen; always follow your doctor's instructions when taking this type of medication!
