Sea creature bites and stings

Blue bottles and non-tropical stingers are sea creatures that are soft, jellylike and have long thin tentacles. Bluebottles are a very common type of jellyfish that swim in non-tropical waters. They are bright blue and are filled with air, floating on the surface of the water. 

Bluebottles usually have one, long main tentacle underneath that is covered in tiny cells that pierce the skin and release painful venom.

Blue-ringed octopus are found in rock pools and shallow reefs. They are small, have eight arms or tentacles and have a hard, sharp beak under their body. 

Blue-ringed octopuses will change colour when they feel threatened and turn from a light brown to a bright yellow with glowing blue rings. They will bite with their beak, and release extremely poisonous venom from their saliva into the bloodstream.

Cone snails are a type of sea snail that lives in shallow water, reefs and sand flats. Their shell is cone-shaped and is covered in bright, detailed patterns. 

Cone snails have a long, flexible tube that they use to shoot a small tooth that looks like a dart or harpoon. When the tooth pierces the skin, it delivers extremely poisonous venom into the bloodstream.

Sea snakes are a type of snake that live in the water and are unable to move on land. They live in warm, tropical waters and are usually found closer to the shore. 

Sea snakes have sharp teeth that they use to bite and release venom into the bloodstream.  They are not usually aggressive but will bite when they are touched.

Tropical stingers, including box jellyfish and Irukandji, are sea creatures that are soft, jellylike and have long thin tentacles. 

Stingers that live in tropical waters are extremely dangerous and have venom that can cause death. Their tentacles are covered in tiny cells that pierce the skin and release painful venom.

• Box jellyfish are large, see-through, and box-shaped with tentacles up to three metres long. 
   
• Irukandji are very small, see-through and have tentacles up to 10 centimetres long.

Venomous fish make harmful venom that is delivered to the bloodstream through a bite, stinger, or spine. 

Some venomous fish are brightly coloured, like lionfish. Others are camouflaged and difficult to see, like stingrays and stonefish. 

Venomous fish can be found in many different types of water but are more common in tropical environments.

Symptoms of a bluebottle sting show up quickly and can last for 1-2 hours.

They can include:

• intense pain
• red, wavy whip-like lines on the skin
• joint aches.

Symptoms of a blue-ringed octopus bite will usually show up quickly, and there may not be any pain from the bite. 

symptoms can include:

• feeling numb around the mouth, tongue, face and neck 
• a tight chest
• difficulty breathing. 

Symptoms of a Cone snail sting will usually show up quickly.

They can include:

• Severe pain
• feeling numb around the mouth, tongue, face, and neck 
• a tight chest
• losing consciousness or passing out
• difficulty breathing. 

Symptoms of a sea snake bite will usually show up within three hours. 

They can include:

• difficulty swallowing
• joint aches
• muscle pain
• blurry vision
• vomiting
• paralysis.

Symptoms of a box jellyfish sting show up immediately. 

They include:

• severe, burning pain
• severe, red whip-like lines in the skin
• chest pain
• breathing difficulties
• cardiac arrest – when the heart stops beating.

Symptoms of an Irukandji sting may take up to 45 minutes to appear. 

They can include:

• shooting pain in the muscles and chest
• severe head and backache
• nausea and vomiting
• difficulty breathing.

Symptoms of venomous fish stings will show up immediately. 

They can include:

• intense pain 
• swelling around the sting
• bleeding
• a broken barb or spine left in the skin
• difficulty breathing
• sweating
• losing consciousness or passing out.

Some children are at risk of severe allergic reactions to sea creature bites and stings. This is called anaphylaxis.

Signs of anaphylaxis include: 

• wheezing, difficult, or noisy breathing 
• swelling of the tongue
• swelling or tightness in the throat
• a persistent cough
• difficulty talking or a hoarse voice
• dizziness
• becoming pale and floppy in young children
• collapsing.

Children at risk of anaphylaxis may also vomit.

If your child has signs of anaphylaxis, you should:

• follow your child’s ASCIA action plan for anaphylaxis if you have one
• use an EpiPen® or Anapen®, if there is one available
• call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance.

Blue bottle stings can be common when swimming at the beach during summer. Bluebottles can also sting on land if your child steps on or touches a tentacle.

Find a nearby lifeguard for immediate first aid help if there is one available.

If your child is stung by a blue bottle:

1. remove them from the water
2. remove any tentacles on their skin with sea water or using a towel to cover your hand
3. cover the sting in water from somewhere like a shower, that is as hot as your child can tolerate for 20 minutes
   • NEVER use boiling water
   • check the water temperature before using it on your child
   • watch to make sure your child is not burned. 
4. If hot water is not available, use ice wrapped in cloth or a towel, or cold running water
5. Watch your child to see if symptoms settle
6. If symptoms do not settle, call the poisons information centre on 13 11 26 for advice.

Blue-ringed octopus bites can be life-threatening. 

Find a nearby lifeguard for immediate first aid help, if there is one available.

First aid includes:

• remove your child from the water
• calling triple zero (000) for an ambulance and following any instructions given over the phone
• wrapping the bite and limb in a pressure bandage
• keeping your child as still as possible until the ambulance arrives.

Pressure bandaging is used to stop the venom from travelling further into the body. Pressure bandages should be wrapped firmly, but not so tight that your child feels numb or their skin changes colour.

To apply a pressure bandage:

1. wrap a firm, wide elastic bandage over the bite
2. wrap a firm, wide elastic bandage over the entire limb – fingers to shoulder, toes to hip
3. use a splint or another hard object to keep the limb straight.

If you do not have an elastic bandage, you can use:

• clothing
• towels
• socks or stockings.

Cone snail stings can be life-threatening. 

Find a nearby lifeguard for immediate first aid help if there is one available.

First aid includes:

• removing your child from the water
• calling triple zero (000) for an ambulance and following any instructions given over the phone
• wrapping the sting and limb in a pressure bandage
• keeping your child as still as possible until the ambulance arrives.

Pressure bandaging is used to stop the venom from travelling further into the body. Pressure bandages should be wrapped firmly, but not so tight that your child feels numb or their skin changes colour.

To apply a pressure bandage:

1. wrap a firm, wide elastic bandage over the bite
2. wrap a firm, wide elastic bandage over the entire limb – fingers to shoulder, toes to hip
3. use a splint or another hard object to keep the limb straight.

If you do not have an elastic bandage, you can use:

• clothing
• towels
• socks or stockings.

Sea snake bites can be life-threatening. 

Find a nearby lifeguard for immediate first aid help if there is one available.

If your child is bitten by a sea snake:

1. call triple zero (000) for an ambulance and follow any instructions given over the phone
2. wrap the bite and limb in a pressure bandage
3. keep your child as still as possible until the ambulance arrives.

Pressure bandaging is used to stop the venom from travelling further into the body. Pressure bandages should be wrapped firmly, but not so tight that your child feels numb or their skin changes colour.

To apply a pressure bandage:

1. wrap a firm, wide elastic bandage over the bite
2. wrap a firm, wide elastic bandage over the entire limb – fingers to shoulder, toes to hip
3. use a splint or another hard object to keep the limb straight.

If you do not have an elastic bandage, you can use:

• clothing
• towels
• socks or stockings.

Stings from tropical stingers, including stone box jellyfish and Irukandji, can be severe and life-threatening.

Find a nearby lifeguard for immediate first aid help if there is one available.

If your child is stung by a tropical stinger:

1. remove your child from the water
2. call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance and follow any instructions given over the phone
3. immediately soak the stings in vinegar for at least 30 seconds
4. if you do not have vinegar, remove any tentacles from your child’s skin using a towel to cover your hand
5. rinse the stings in seawater
6. watch your child for signs of breathing or cardiac issues while you wait for the ambulance to arrive
7. call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for further advice while you wait.

Stings from venomous fish, including stone fish and stingrays, can be severe and life-threatening.

Find a nearby lifeguard for immediate first aid help if there is one available.

If your child is stung by a venomous fish:

1. remove your child from the water
2. call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance and follow any instructions given over the phone
3. leave the spine or barb in the skin, unless you are told otherwise by the ambulance
4. cover the sting in water from somewhere like a shower or in a bucket, that is as hot as your child can tolerate for 30 minutes
   • NEVER use boiling water
   • check the water temperature before using it on your child
   • watch to make sure your child is not burned. 
5. replace the water as it starts to cool down
6. continue until the ambulance arrives
7. call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for further advice while you wait.

Teaching your child to leave sea creatures alone is one of the most important ways you can help prevent bites and stings. It is helpful to recognise where these sea creatures might live, including:

• in rock pools
• under rocks
• in the ocean during certain times of the year
• in areas where there are warning signs.

You can also support your child to enjoy the beach and ocean safely by:

• having them wear protective water shoes around rock pools and swimsuits with full body coverage in areas where there are stingers
• using “look, don’t touch” with sea creatures and shells in the water and on land
• looking for warning signs and alerts about sea creatures when swimming
• swimming at patrolled beaches, and staying in between the flags so the lifeguards can see you
• entering the water slowly and shuffle your feet gently to give any hidden sting rays time to swim away.