SIMPLE FIRST AID

SIMPLE FIRST AID

For Marine Bites, Stings, and Fishing Wounds

This is one of a series of articles prepared for Fishing Cairns by Dr Deborah Mills, author of the book,Travelling Well, and director of Dr Deb The Travel Doctor travel medicine clinics in Brisbane.

Simple First Aid For Marine Bites And Stings

Seek local advice regarding treatment specific to the local sea life. There are many dangerous marine creatures around the planet: sea wasps, jellyfish, bluebottle, stonefish, fire coral, sea urchins, irikanji etc. Dangerous jellyfish have been reported in many parts of the Pacific and Indian oceans.

1. Call emergency services, especially if you are unfamiliar with the creature and recommended treatment.
2. Monitor the casualty closely, in case breathing or circulation is affected.
3. Apply the relevant local remedy, as noted next page, and seek medical attention.

Treatment Of Wounds

The presence of some bacteria in the wound is to be expected since bacteria are everywhere in the environment. Problems occur when there are too many bacteria growing in the wound causing infection which delays healing. In the tropics, minor cuts and scratches will rapidly become infected if not treated correctly, and can lead to tropical ulcers. Do not ignore minor wounds as you might at home.

Infection can be prevented by:

• Washing your hands with soap and water before handling wounds.
• Trying to touch the wound as little as possible.
• Ensuring that all dressings are sterile.
• Cleaning all wounds thoroughly at the outset.

Inspect all wounds under a good light to check for foreign particles. These must be removed as dirt, gravel, marine slime or other foreign particles will cause infection. Adequate cleaning is especially important for deep wounds or contaminated wounds.

Irrigate wounds with room temperaturesterile (boiled or bottled) water or salt solution. Add one quarter teaspoon of salt to 200 mls (1 cup) of clean water. Pour water over the wound or use a 5 or 10ml syringe to squirt water gently onto the wound to remove foreign matter. Note that marine slime may not be visible. Pour dilute hydrogen peroxide on wound if available. The foaming action helps dislodge foreign particles.

Wounds potentially contaminated by coral need to be gently scrubbed with a clean toothbrush or piece of gauze to remove particles of marine slime, even if they look quite clean.

Dead tissue must be removed as it blocks healing and acts as a breeding ground for germs.Cut away obvious bits of dead tissue with sharp scissors. This is known as ‘debridement’.

Carry a decent medical kit of your own, or make sure you have access to one. This will ensure you can deal with minor problems fast so you don’t lose too much valuable fishing time. Click here for my suggestions of what should be in the recreational fisherman’s first aid kit.