Stepped on a sea urchin...

In the waters of the Adriatic live the most diverse sea creature, and not all of them are nice and safe ...

On the coast of Montenegro, tourists run the risk to encounter the sea urchins, meeting with which is sometimes very painful and dangerous. Sea urchins are a class of echinoderms animals that inhabit the earth for over 500 million years(!). Their life expectancy is calculated for decades, and even some individuals have stepped a 100-year milestone.

Sea urchins live on the seabed, mostly among the rocks in shallow water, and pose a serious threat to unsuspecting tourists legs. Despite the fact that the Adriatic poisonous sea urchins are not found, their prick is very unpleasant, and the first thing that feels overly admiring the beauty of the tourist sea is a sharp pain and burning.

The danger of the sea urchin is double.

 1. A needle of a sea urchin is a kind of a disposable syringe containing the toxin. Poison which is injected into the tissue during an injection, is not able to kill human (too little, and it is created for other smaller organisms), but this substance can cause human an anaphylactic shock (sudden allergic response) - and that may create a deadly situation.

 2. Needles of sea urchin are "made" of a very brittle silicon compound. Inside they are completely hollow and the outside is covered with small indents. After the injection needle instantly breaks down and get stuck in the tissues the same as the sting of a wasp or bee. Pull them out later is extremely difficult, and it is necessary to do for sure, because in the future the sore starts swelling and festering. Again it is worth noting that the sea urchin does not set a task to bring you as much trouble as possible. He must stab the abuser and lose only one needle out of a thousand, sleeping in a whole skin.

So, what to do if you stepped on a sea urchin?

First of all, make sure that it really is a sea urchin - an animal of spherical form (can be flattened), entirely covered with fairly long spines. To do this is necessary, as the species of marine organisms are various, each poison acts in its own way, and first-aid measures may be different. In any case, having felt the sting of the sea urchin, quickly get out of the water and inspect the injury. For some people, marine toxins are very strong, and loss of consciousness leads to drowning, even in shallow water.

If a needle of a sea urchin is not visible, it glared at the joint area or went very deep, or you do not feel very well, do not take any action and immediately contact the surgeon. If there are no signs of asphyxiation and a sharp deterioration in health and a needle is not deeply entered into the tissue, then try to remove the remnants of the needle by yourself. But it doesn’t mean, that after these operations, you will not have any festering, and do not need to see a doctor.

In any case, self-evaluate the situation and your strength and take action quickly.

For the self-extracting of needles of sea urchins, we have chosen several methods used by people in similar situations.

Method 1.
If you see that a needle of a sea urchin is under the skin and does not penetrate into the muscles, then right on the beach, try the following actions: Liberally rinse the foot with fresh water. Pour the bite with any alcoholic solution for disinfection (even perfume is suitable). Remember that the silicone compounds that make up the needle of a sea urchin, dissolved by acid, find a large lemon or vinegar (5-7%) and pour over with the weak solution of acid at the injection site. Crumble the needle, by tapping with a smooth and heavy object at the place of injection (clean bottle or a small stone). Squeeze out of the injury the crumbled parts of the needle. Ensure that all extraneous bodies from under the skin are removed, wash the injection site with warm water. Treat the wound with antiseptic ointment

Method 2.
Liberally rinse the foot with fresh water. Knock with a smooth and heavy object (eg a bottle) at the injection site, and around it - the needle has to crumble. Pour the damaged area of the skin with lemon juice and put on foot a plastic bag. 30 minutes to warm it in the sun. After some time, copious lymph from the puncture site begins to exude, and it will be possible to squeeze out most of the crumbled needles. Clean the injection site with warm water. Treat the wound with antiseptic ointment. After 2-3 days, the rest of the needles come out by their own.

Method 3.
If, however, on the beach there are not necessary things at hand, you can go home and take more drastic action there:  Liberally rinse the foot with fresh water. Treat the wound with an alcohol solution. Pour the injection site with mild acid (lemon, vinegar). Steam the injection site in hot water. Lower the injured extremity in hot water, as hot, as you only can bear (it neutralizes toxins). Just not overdo it with the temperature, not to aggravate the injury with burn. Instead of water the heated to 40 ° C oil can also be used, with which is necessary to moisten a cloth and apply to the affected area. Again, we must be very careful with the temperature and not to aggravate the situation. After that, the sea urchin needle can be squeezed out very carefully, as splinters. Ensure that all exuded bodies from under the skin are removed, wash the injection site with warm water. Treat the affected area with antiseptic ointment.

Method 4.
This is the easiest and most extraordinary way to remove the needles of the sea urchin, which we were told by the locals. So far we have not seen it in performance, and that treatment has not been confirmed ... Liberally rinse the foot with fresh water. Apply to the injection site a little toothpaste and needles come out themselves. Clean the injection site with warm water. Treat the affected area with antiseptic ointment. Within 2 days, observe the affected areas. If traces of the injection of sea urchin are not left, it means that you are lucky and all ended well. If the skin has visible purple markings, or the pain doesn’t go away, then the needle under the skin are left, abscess or an allergic reaction is appeared and it’s necessary to visit a doctor immediately.

Lifehack: sea urchins present in large numbers on the beaches of Ploce, Mirista, Zhanits and Plavi Horizonti in Montenegro.

Be careful, wear special shoes and try to watch where you step.

 

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