How to Identify & Treat Injuries From Stingrays & Sea Urchins

Series Summary

The term First Aid refers to the immediate care that is provided to an injured or sick person. It is used to stabilize a patient until further medical treatment and assessment can be provided at a hospital or care facility. For most of us, a first-aid kit is used primarily to treat minor medical emergencies, like small cuts or burns. But it is important to keep a first-aid kit stocked with supplies you use regularly as well as those items you might use for a more serious situation until EMS can help. In addition to a first-aid kit, knowing what to do in emergency situations is a key part of treating injuries. Knowledge of how to roll an injured person to safety or help a person having an epileptic seizure may not be included in a first aid kit but might just save a life. In this free video series, a firefighter explains and demonstrates a number of first aid and safety procedures, including the treatment of injuries from stingrays and jellyfish, making a fire safety plan and performing the Heimlich maneuver. There is also extensive information on the care and recognition of insect bites, such as those from wasps, black widow spiders and chiggers. Other safety tips include hypothermia prevention and techniques for performing CPR.

Video Transcript

"You know vacations or trip to the salt water or beach areas of our country can be a pretty satisfying and enjoyable experience. Hi, I'm Captain Joe Bruni and what we're going to talk about is how to treat a common injury incurred from either the common stingray or sea urchin. Common stingray and sea urchin both have some type of barb or spines that are going to cause some type of puncture wound to the victim. Commonly what occurs is a victim stands or tramps on top of a stingray along the shoreline of our nation's beaches when stingrays come close to shore during the mating season and the hot summer months. When the tail thrashes, the spine of the tail will puncture usually the foot or lower leg of the victim. Sea urchins can also be stepped on causing puncture wounds to the foot or lower leg areas of many victims. First step would be to remove any type of spines left over from a sea urchin injury. With a stingray most of the time the spine has stayed attached to the stingray and won't be found in the victim. However, you may find quite a significant puncture wound. Clean the area with some type of soap and water or anti-septic solution and then place that individuals injured part into some very warm, almost hot water, to help break down the toxins from the toxic venom that's been injected by the spine of the sea urchin or the stingray. Hot water provides instant relief from pain. After thirty minutes of immersion in hot water we can wrap the wound and clean it and dress it normally as we would any injury to the body. Stay safe and we'll see you next time. I'm Captain Joe Bruni."