The human being, by nature, fears what he does not know. That is the reason why he always wants to explore new places. He has been gifted with an innate curiosity that leads him to want to know everything.
He always wants to climb the highest mountain, take to the farthest place and navigate uncharted waters.
One of the most fascinating places with much to explore is the marine world. In fact, so far if you will, it is the most mysterious after space. There are still hundreds of species that the human being does not know, hence his eagerness to invent devices that allow him to reach the depths.
Just like on land, there is a wide variety of animals in the sea. Many are small, at the microscopic level, while others are extremely large, so large that with just one bite we can be swallowed whole.
Some are defenseless, while others are predators of the water. There are many others that can cause harm to humans with just contact. This is your defense system against other creatures.
One of the fish that we must take care of is the stonefish, not only because of its sting but also because it can be deadly, due to its powerful poison. In view of what has been said, it is important that you take the time to get to know this species.
Today we will be talking about its characteristics, its habitat, its bite and its poison. In other words, we will be informing you about everything you need to know so as not to take any kind of risk.
So pay attention to this look that we will give to the marine world, a fascinating world to explore.
Instructions
The stonefish is one of the most poisonous members of the world’s fish family, making it a deadly threat to humans.
In its anatomy, the stonefish has about thirteen spines arranged on its dorsal fin, which can inject an amount of poison that is clearly proportional to the pressure applied to it. In other words, the harder the stomp, the more poison you’ll be injected with.
This bite causes a lot of pain and swelling. The poison spreads very quickly and kills the tissues causing you to feel muscle weakness, muscle paralysis and could even go into shock to death, if not treated promptly.
Stonefish can be found off the coast of Florida and in the Caribbean. Also in the coastal regions of the Indigo and Pacific Oceans, in addition to the Philippines, the Red Sea and the Maldives. However, the place where they proliferate the most is in Australia.
These fish live in coastal waters and, due to their appearance, can camouflage themselves very well among stones and corals.
The stone fishes do not attack the human being, in general, the sting occurs when the person who is in the water, mistakes the foot for a real stone and steps on it. Something that increases the chances of an accidental sting is the fact that the stonefish can survive up to 24 hours out of the water, while the tide rises to return to the sea.
Logically, in these conditions bathers can confuse them with much more reason for a stone. Since no one expects to see a fish alive out of the water, and due to its appearance with small bumps all over its body, the danger becomes more real.
The stonefish is just one of the poisonous marine species, although many consider it to be the most lethal. Now, what do you need to know about stonefish venom and sting? We will be answering that question. That is why we invite you to read the next subtitle.
What do you need
When we say that stonefish venom is one of the most toxic in the world, we are not exaggerating. In fact, it’s even deadlier than the snake’s. This poison is composed of cardio toxins, neurotoxins and phytotoxins.
With just one puncture from this fish you could lose your life in no time.
However, stepping on it is not the only way you can get poisoned by this fish. The stonefish has a mucosa that, when in contact with the skin, could poison you.
In some countries, it is considered an exquisite dish. However, to cook it you have to take certain precautions so as not to accidentally prick yourself, as it could be a fatal accident.
But let’s say the doom of fate follows you and you get stung by a stonefish, what do you need to know? How can you act? There are some home remedies that you can apply. For example, the first thing you should do is wash the wound very well with soap and water.
You can then apply undiluted lemon juice to the wound, followed by powdered sugar.
Crush some garlic and place it on the wound for several days, you can mix it with sugar. This is a very good combination since garlic is a natural antibiotic.
You will have to wait for the blisters of fluid that you get to burst on their own. Resist the temptation to want to do it with your hands because you could make the infection you have worse and that would complicate everything.
These blisters usually appear on other parts of the skin because the poison spreads quickly. When that happens, you can apply garlic with sugar as we recommended before.
However, there are other home remedies that you can take into account if necessary. The important thing is that you do not despair and that you go to an expert as soon as possible. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
On the other hand, it is important that you take into account certain advice that we will give you right now. So pay close attention because you will surely want to prevent a situation like this, if it is within your reach.
Tips
One of the most frequent mistakes people make when they go to the beach is to go into the water barefoot. If you go to any beach in the world, no matter how clear the water looks, wear good shoes.
When we talk about a good shoe, we mean a special one, since sports shoes will not protect you because the spines of the stone fish are very strong and could go through the sole.
If you see what you think is a rock, don’t risk stepping on it! It could be one of these stone fishes.
On the other hand, there are people with the best of intentions who, when they see a fish jumping out of the water, try to put it back in the water. If you see that this fish has very nice colors and bumps all over its body, don’t touch it! Remember that any contact with the stonefish could poison you.
What many stung people usually do is apply a tourniquet. Do not do the same yourself; this could only cause more damage. Instead, you should go to the doctor as quickly as possible to apply the appropriate treatment.
Naturally, the sting of the stonefish produces excruciating pain. In order to relieve the pain, immerse the foot in hot water, as much as you can bear, this will allow you to find some relief while you get to the nearest hospital.
Remember that this is not an exaggeration. The consequences of a stonefish sting can be fatal. In view of that, take appropriate preventive measures.
The unforeseen event can affect us all; however, when we are prepared we can know how we should act in certain situations.
Don’t go into the water barefoot. Avoid stonefish stings.
