Marine Life Hazards and First Aid Measures, Slides of Biology

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OVERVIEW OF MARINE HAZARDS

There are a number of hazardous creatures in the sea. Many can cause serious harm to unaware or inattentive divers. Some may even cause death, although this often depends on the amount of venom used, individual reactions, nature of injury and location of accidents (deep water victims often drown).

This presentation will provide some basic first aid tips, although by far the best policy is not to meddle with these creatures

• Sea anemone
• Sea cucumber
• Stinging corals
• Crown-of-Thorns starfish
• Hydroids
• Box jellies
• Sea urchins

• Shellfish- dinoflagellates (PSP)
• Scomboid- fish left a room temp., bacterial

breakdown of tissue

• Tetradoxin- pufferfish, blue-ringed octopus
• Ciguatera- dinoflagellate

• Barracuda
• Moray eel
• Grouper
• Sharks:

Bull shark Tiger shark Great white Galapagos shark Mako

Anemone

COMMON 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. Docsity.com

COMMON HABITAT Tide pools, sandy areas, shallow to deep offshore waters.

PREVENTION Do not handle (even with gloves), especially near tip.

INJURY MECHANISM

Poisonous, dart-like mechanism near tip used for stunning and killing fish and invertebrates.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Stinging, burning pain, numbness, coma or cardiac arrest.

FIRST AID TREATMENT

Scrub the wound. Get medical help for severe reactions.

Cone Shell

Stinging limu

COMMON HABITAT (^) shallow to deep offshore waters.

PREVENTION Do not handle

INJURY MECHANISM Stinging cells

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS persistent itching or skin rash

FIRST AID TREATMENT

Wash skin with soap & water, use rubbing alcohol, hydrocortisone, Benadryl Docsity.com

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 HABITAT

Rocky 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 SYMPTOMS

Bleeding, severe muscle damage, but more commonly tendon and nerve damage.

FIRST AID TREATMENT

Stop bleeding with pressure, clean thoroughly. Get medical help (guard against infection).Docsity.com

Portuguese Man-O-War

Jellyfish

Open ocean. Bays and beaches during strong onshore winds.

PREVENTION

Avoid 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 SYMPTOMS

Stinging, 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 HABITAT Protected ledges, rocky areas, and shallow inshore areas.

PREVENTION Do 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. Docsity.com

Sea Urchin

COMMON HABITAT

Shallow reef areas to 100 foot depths.

PREVENTION

Wear foot protection. Don't walk on rocky areas with poor visibility. Do not handle! INJURY MECHANISM Long, extremely brittle spines.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Throbbing pain. Purplishdiscoloration.

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 MECHANISM

Jaws and rows of razor sharp teeth. Abrasions from sandpaper- like skin.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Severe 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

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