What are sea creature bites and stings?

There are numerous sea creatures that can bite or sting you. Most injuries are caused by:

• jelly fish stings
• spiny fish
• stingrays
• sea urchins

The severity of the sting depends on what's stung you.

Bites and stings from sea creatures can cause anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction).

Bluebottles and other jellyfish (non-tropical stingers)

Bluebottles are found in the seas around Australia. They are also called Portuguese man-o-war.

Bluebottle stings are the most common jellyfish stings in Australia.

Box jellyfish, Irukandji and other tropical stingers

Tropical stingers live in tropical waters along the coastline of Northern Australia. The most dangerous are box jellyfish and Irukandji.

The height of the stinger season is from November to May.

Fish sting injuries

Injuries from fish and stingrays can happen through a bite, stinger or spine. When these spines stab into your skin, they release venom.

Stonefish stings

Stonefish live all along the coast and in some fresh waters. They are more often found in tropical waters.

They look like rocks and live among rocks on coral reefs or in mud or sand. The stonefish's back is lined with spines that release a venom. This makes them very dangerous.

Blue-ringed octopus, sea snake and cone shell bites and stings

The blue ringed octopus can be found in rock pools and reefs around Australia.

Bites and stings from the blue-ringed octopus, sea snakes and cone shells are very dangerous and can cause death.

Sea urchin injuries

Sea urchins are found in the seas around Australia. Most injuries happen when they're stepped on or picked up.

Sponge injuries

Reactions to sponges are uncommon.

What are the symptoms of sea creature bites and stings?

Sea creature bites and stings can be life-threatening. If you or someone else is having trouble breathing, having a cardiac arrest or are unconscious, call triple zero (000) immediately and ask for an ambulance.

If you are bitten or stung by a sea creature, the first aid treatment depends on the creature involved.

Bluebottles and other jellyfish (non-tropical stingers)

Symptoms are:

• intense pain straight away
• redness at the site

Box jellyfish, Irukandji and other tropical stingers

The symptoms of a box jellyfish sting are:

• severe pain in the area
• rash — appears over 7 to 14 days
• unconsciousness
• seizure
• cardiac arrest

An Irukandji sting causes a minor skin irritation at first. Then 5 to 40 minutes later you may get symptoms of Irukandji Syndrome:

• muscle pain
• headache
• nausea and vomiting
• sweating
• restlessness

Fish sting injuries

Symptoms include:

• severe pain in the area
• swelling
• puncture wound or barb in your skin

Stonefish stings

Symptoms of a stonefish sting are:

• severe pain
• swelling in the area
• a barb in your skin

Blue-ringed octopus, sea snake and cone shell bites and stings

The bite from a blue-ringed octopus is often painless. Symptoms may include:

• numbness around your mouth, tongue, face and neck
• tight chest and trouble breathing

Cone shell stings can cause:

• pain, swelling and numbness
• muscle weakness — this can make it hard to breathe
• changes in vision, speech and hearing

Sea urchin injuries

Symptoms include:

• pain
• spines in your skin

Sponge injuries

Symptoms include:

• pain
• itchiness
• numbness

These symptoms can last for days.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

When should I see a doctor?

Sea creature bites and stings can be life-threatening. Get help from a lifeguard if possible.

Minor bluebottle stings and sponge stings can be treated at home. Stings and bites from most other sea creatures will require urgent medical attention.

When to seek urgent care

Get urgent care if you:

• have severe symptoms after a sting from a bluebottle or other jellyfish
• are stung by a box jellyfish
• are stung by a stonefish or other stinging fish
• are stung by a sea urchin
• are stung by a blue-ringed octopus or cone snail
• are bitten by a sea snake

Anaphylaxis

Some people experience anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) to sea creature bites and stings.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis may include:

• difficult or noisy breathing
• a swollen tongue
• swelling or tightness in the throat
• difficulty talking or a hoarse voice
• persistent (ongoing) dizziness or collapse
• wheeze or persistent cough
• going pale and floppy (young children)

Use an adrenaline autoinjector — EpiPen or Anapen, if you have one.

Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How are sea creature bites and stings treated?

Your treatment will depend on the type of creature that has bitten or stung you. If you don't know what has stung you, a lifeguard or other people nearby might be able to tell you.

Bluebottles and other jellyfish (non-tropical stingers)

To treat a bluebottle sting:

• Wash any tentacles off the skin with seawater, not fresh water.
• Soak the affected area in hot water (no hotter than can be easily tolerated) for 20 minutes to relieve the pain.

Don't use vinegar as this may make your pain worse.

See a doctor if your pain doesn't get better with painkillers.

Box jellyfish, Irukandji and other tropical stingers

To treat a box jellyfish sting:

• Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
• Get help from a lifesaver or lifeguard if possible.
• Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if needed.
• Pour or spray vinegar onto the sting for at least 30 seconds. Then pick off the tentacles.
• If vinegar is not available, pick off the tentacles and wash the area with sea water.

Anti-venom is available at hospitals.

To treat an Irukandji jellyfish sting:

• Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
• Get help from a lifesaver or lifeguard if possible.
• Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if needed.
• Pour vinegar onto the sting for at least 30 seconds.

Fish stings injuries

To treat a fish or stingray injury:

• Wash the wound.
• For pain relief, immerse affected area in hot water (45°C) for up to 90 minutes.

If you have a deep wound or a lot of pain go to the hospital.

Stonefish

To treat a sting:

• Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
• Leave the spine in the skin — unless the ambulance operator tells you to remove it.
• Soak the affected area in hot water (no hotter than can be easily tolerated) for up to 30 minutes.

Stonefish antivenom is available if needed.

Blue-ringed octopus, sea snake and cone shell bites and stings

To treat a sting:

• Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
• Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage if the bite is on a foot, leg, hand or arm.
• Keep the person as calm and still as possible until medical help arrives.
• Provide CPR if needed.

Sea urchin injuries

To treat sea urchin injuries:

• Remove spines close to the surface.
• Immerse affected area in water (no hotter than easily tolerated) for 20 minutes. Repeat if your symptoms continue.
• See a doctor to have the spines removed if you can't do it yourself.

Sponge injuries

To treat sponge injury, wash the wound.

How can I prevent sea creature bites and stings?

To protect yourself from sea creature bites and stings:

• Swim at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags.
• Check signs for sea creature warnings.
• Do not touch sea creatures.
• Supervise children around rock pools. Teach them to look and not touch.

In tropical waters, it's recommended to:

• Swim at patrolled beaches during warmer months
• Wear a full body swimsuit also called a stinger suit.
• Enter the water slowly and shuffle your feet. This gives stingrays time to swim away.

Resources and support

For expert advice, call the Poison Information Hotline on 13 11 26.

See St John Ambulance Australia's quick guide to first aid management of bites and stings.

Knowing what to do in an emergency can save a life. Visit St John Ambulance Australia's first aid resuscitation procedures (DRSABCD) poster. You can book a first aid course through St John Ambulance Australia or call them at 1300 360 455.

The Australian Red Cross First Aid app is free and easy-to-use. It gives you instant access to the information you will need to handle the most common first aid emergencies.

The Australian Bites & Stings app contains first aid instructions on what to do if you're bitten or stung by a venomous creature, and is free to download.

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy has information on anaphylaxis. They also give advice on how to set up an anaphylaxis action plan.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.