Beauty can be intoxicating....
Posted By Sara-Lise Haith on 23 June 2004
I have seen divers pick up Scorpionfish from the underside and show them to other divers… this is an accident waiting to happen. The spines of a Scorpionfish are difficult to remove from the skin and are extremely painful. Appreciate the beauty of these animals but the number one rule is DON’T TOUCH!
If you encounter someone who has just been stung by a Scorpionfish, take the following action. Wash the area with SALT WATER. This goes for any marine life injury regarding stings. Remove any spines at the site of the wound, and soak the wound in water as hot as the person can bear for 30 to 90 minutes. Call the local doctor in the area and ask advice. You may need to take the person to a hospital, and especially you should watch for the following: gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), respiratorial symptoms (shortness of breath), blood pressure, heart rate, and check for reactions by the nervous system; fainting, delirium, seizures and paralysis. If you are qualified to administer a tetanus immunization to the patient do so.
To avoid unexpected traumas like the scenario above on your holidays, shuffle your feet while walking in lagoons (hidden stingrays) and don’t walk near any coral blocks. Wear diving shoes if you are uncertain (but don’t use them to walk on reefs!)
The stonefish has a row of 13 (how unlucky) venomous spines. Each one is encased in a sheath containing bulging venom glands. Interestingly enough, the stonefish does not actually shoot venom or barbs. It is the victim himself that causes the injury, as downward pressure on the spines pushes back the sheath, and pressurised glands shoots venom upwards with force, going up the surface of the spine in small grooves, right into the deepest part of the wound. You may experience temporary paralysis and there have even been some fatalities. The treatment is exactly the same as above; however, a person injured by a stonefish must receive immediate medical attention.
References
•Brusca, R.C., and Brusca, G.J. 1990. Invertebrates. Sinauer Associates Inc. Sunderland. Massachusetts.
•Covacevich, J., Davie, P. and Pearn, J. (editors). 1987. Toxic Plants and animals; a guide for Australia. Queensland Museum. Brisbane.
•Edmonds, C. 1989. Dangerous marine creatures. Reed Books Pty Ltd. Sydney.
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