A poisonous bite or sting from any form of marine life, such as a jellyfish.

• The majority of these types of stings occur in salt water.
• Some types of marine stings or bites can be deadly.

Causes include bites or stings from various types of marine life including: jellyfish, Portuguese Man-of-War, stingray, stonefish, scorpion fish, catfish, sea urchins, sea anemone, hydroid, coral, cone shell, moray eels, sharks, barracudas, and electric eels.

• Localized symptoms
  • Pain
  • Burning
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Laceration, bleeding
• Generalized symptoms
  • Groin pain, armpit pain
  • Cramps
  • Fever
  • Sweating
  • Weakness, faintness, dizziness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Paralysis

• Keep the victim quiet and still.
• Wear gloves, if possible when removing stingers.
• Wipe off stingers or tentacles with a towel.
• Wash the area with salt water.
• Soak the wound in as hot of water as the patient can tolerate for 30-90 minutes, if instructed to do so by trained personnel.
• For some types of stings/bites, you may be instructed to apply vinegar or a meat tenderizer/water solution to neutralize the venom.

• DO NOT attempt to remove stingers without protecting your own hands.
• DO NOT raise the affected body part above the level of the heart.
• DO NOT allow the victim to exercise.
• DO NOT give any medication, unless told to do so by a physician.

• The victim has generalized symptoms.
• The victim has difficulty breathing.
• There is uncontrollable bleeding.

• Swim near a lifeguard.
• Observe posted signs that may warn of danger from jellyfish or other hazardous marine life.
• Do not touch unfamiliar marine life. Even dead animals or severed tentacles may contain poisonous venom.