How to properly treat coral cuts. What are the symptoms of coral injuries. How long does it take for coral cuts to heal. What first aid measures should be taken for coral scrapes. How to prevent scarring from coral injuries. When to seek medical attention for coral cuts.

Understanding Coral Cuts: Causes and Risks

Coral cuts are a common hazard for divers, snorkelers, and beachgoers in tropical areas. These injuries occur when skin comes into contact with the sharp edges of coral reefs or the stinging cells of certain coral species. While often dismissed as minor, coral cuts can lead to serious complications if not properly treated.

The severity of coral cuts can vary widely, from superficial scrapes to deep lacerations. Fire coral, in particular, is notorious for causing painful injuries due to its venomous nematocysts. These microscopic stinging cells can inject toxins into the skin, leading to intense burning sensations and potential allergic reactions.

Why are coral cuts potentially dangerous?

• Risk of infection from marine bacteria
• Potential for allergic reactions to coral toxins
• Difficulty in complete removal of coral fragments from wounds
• Chronic irritation and delayed healing

Immediate First Aid for Coral Cuts

Quick and proper first aid is crucial when dealing with coral cuts. The primary goals are to clean the wound, neutralize any toxins, and prevent infection. Here’s a step-by-step guide for immediate treatment:

1. Rinse the affected area thoroughly with clean, fresh water
2. If available, flush the wound with vinegar to neutralize toxins
3. Remove any visible coral fragments with tweezers
4. Clean the wound with mild soap and water
5. Apply an antiseptic solution like hydrogen peroxide or iodine
6. Cover the wound with a sterile bandage

Is vinegar effective for all types of coral cuts? While vinegar is particularly useful for neutralizing the toxins from fire coral and other stinging species, it’s generally beneficial for all coral injuries as it helps clean and disinfect the wound.

Symptoms and Signs of Coral Cut Infections

Monitoring the wound for signs of infection is crucial in the days following a coral injury. Infections can develop rapidly due to the presence of marine bacteria and lingering coral fragments in the wound. Common symptoms of infected coral cuts include:

• Increased redness and swelling around the wound
• Warmth or heat emanating from the affected area
• Pus or discharge from the cut
• Fever or chills
• Increasing pain or tenderness
• Red streaks extending from the wound

If any of these symptoms occur, it’s important to seek medical attention promptly. Untreated infections can lead to more serious complications, including cellulitis or even sepsis in severe cases.

Medical Treatment Options for Coral Cuts

While many coral cuts can be treated effectively at home, some cases require professional medical intervention. A healthcare provider may recommend the following treatments:

Topical Medications

Prescription creams and ointments can help manage inflammation and prevent infection. Corticosteroid creams like clobetasol (Cormax) are often prescribed to reduce swelling and itching associated with coral dermatitis.

Oral Antibiotics

In cases of infection or high risk of infection, oral antibiotics may be prescribed. These help combat marine bacteria that can thrive in coral cut wounds.

Debridement

For wounds that are not healing properly, a doctor may perform debridement. This procedure involves removing dead tissue and any remaining coral fragments from the wound to promote healing.

Tetanus Booster

Due to the nature of coral cuts, a tetanus booster shot is often recommended if the patient’s immunization is not up to date.

When should you see a doctor for a coral cut? It’s advisable to seek medical attention if the wound shows signs of infection, is not healing after a few days, or if you experience severe pain or allergic reactions.

Long-Term Healing and Scar Management

The healing process for coral cuts can be prolonged, often taking several weeks to months for complete recovery. Even after the wound has closed, it’s common to experience lingering effects such as hyperpigmentation or scarring.

To promote optimal healing and minimize scarring:

• Keep the wound clean and moisturized
• Avoid sun exposure to the affected area
• Apply silicone-based scar treatments
• Consider vitamin E or other scar-reducing oils
• Consult a dermatologist for persistent discoloration or scarring

Can coral cut scars be completely eliminated? While complete elimination of scars is not always possible, proper care and treatment can significantly reduce their appearance over time.

Preventing Coral Cuts: Safety Measures for Water Activities

Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to coral cuts. Implementing proper safety measures can greatly reduce the risk of injury during water activities in coral-rich environments:

Protective Gear

Wearing appropriate protective clothing such as wetsuits, rash guards, and water shoes can provide a barrier between your skin and coral.

Awareness and Education

Understanding the types of coral in the area and their potential dangers can help you avoid risky encounters. Many dive and snorkel operators provide briefings on local marine life and safety precautions.

Proper Buoyancy Control

For divers, maintaining good buoyancy control is crucial to avoid accidental contact with coral reefs.

Respect Marine Life

Observing coral and marine life from a safe distance not only protects you but also helps preserve delicate reef ecosystems.

How can divers improve their buoyancy to avoid coral contact? Regular practice in controlled environments, proper weighting, and mindful breathing techniques can significantly enhance a diver’s buoyancy control.

Environmental Considerations: Protecting Coral Reefs

While focusing on personal safety is important, it’s equally crucial to consider the impact of human interaction on coral reefs. These delicate ecosystems are vital to marine biodiversity and are under threat from various factors, including climate change and physical damage from tourists.

To help protect coral reefs while enjoying water activities:

• Use reef-safe sunscreen to avoid chemical pollution
• Avoid touching or standing on coral, even if it appears dead
• Choose eco-friendly tour operators committed to reef conservation
• Participate in reef clean-up activities when possible
• Support marine conservation efforts and organizations

What makes sunscreen “reef-safe”? Reef-safe sunscreens typically avoid harmful chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate, instead using mineral-based ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that are less damaging to marine ecosystems.

Advanced Diving Considerations: Safety Stops and Pressure-Related Injuries

While not directly related to coral cuts, understanding diving safety practices is crucial for overall underwater safety. Safety stops are a critical component of safe diving practices, designed to allow excess nitrogen to be released from the body gradually.

Missing a safety stop, as described in the scenario where divers ascended from 40 feet without pausing at 15 feet, can potentially increase the risk of decompression sickness (DCS). However, the symptoms described (tingling fingers after a hot shower) were correctly assessed by DAN (Divers Alert Network) as likely being a circulation issue rather than DCS.

Key points about safety stops and pressure-related concerns:

• Always perform safety stops as recommended by dive tables or computers
• Ascend slowly and steadily to avoid rapid pressure changes
• Be aware of environmental factors like currents and waves that can affect ascent
• Avoid strenuous activity immediately after diving
• Stay hydrated and avoid hot showers or saunas shortly after diving

How can divers ensure they perform proper safety stops in challenging conditions? Using a dive computer with audible alarms, deploying a surface marker buoy for reference, and practicing buoyancy control can help divers maintain proper depth during safety stops even in currents or choppy waters.

Breathing Techniques for New Divers

Proper breathing technique is fundamental to safe and enjoyable diving. For new divers transitioning from breathing through the nose to mouth breathing with a regulator, the following steps can be helpful:

1. Practice breathing through a snorkel while partially submerged, focusing on inhaling and exhaling through the mouth
2. Gradually transition to using a regulator while still in shallow water
3. Incorporate mask use once comfortable with mouth breathing
4. Practice regulator and snorkel exchanges to build confidence
5. Focus on slow, deep breaths to maintain calm and conserve air

Why is proper breathing technique important for divers? Efficient breathing helps conserve air supply, maintains buoyancy control, and reduces the risk of lung overexpansion injuries during ascent.

Developing comfort with underwater breathing takes time and practice. Many dive centers offer pool sessions or shallow water training to help new divers master these skills in a controlled environment before venturing into open water.

Advanced Breathing Techniques

As divers gain experience, they may learn advanced breathing techniques such as:

• Skip breathing (not recommended due to risk of CO2 buildup)
• Diaphragmatic breathing for improved air efficiency
• Alternate air source breathing for emergency situations

These techniques should be learned under professional supervision to ensure they are performed safely and effectively.

Mastering proper breathing techniques not only enhances diving safety but also contributes to a more relaxed and enjoyable underwater experience. It allows divers to focus on exploring the marine environment and appreciating the beauty of coral reefs and marine life, rather than being preoccupied with basic survival skills.

The Importance of Dive Education and Continuous Learning

Whether dealing with coral cuts, performing safety stops, or mastering breathing techniques, ongoing education is crucial for divers of all levels. The underwater environment presents unique challenges and risks that require specific knowledge and skills to navigate safely.

Continuing Education Opportunities

Many dive organizations offer a variety of specialty courses that can enhance a diver’s skills and knowledge:

• Underwater Navigation
• Deep Diving
• Night Diving
• Wreck Diving
• Marine Life Identification
• Underwater Photography

These courses not only improve diving skills but also deepen appreciation for marine ecosystems, potentially leading to greater awareness and conservation efforts.

Staying Informed on Diving Medicine

Understanding the physiological effects of diving and how to respond to diving-related medical issues is crucial for all divers. Resources like DAN (Divers Alert Network) provide valuable information and support for the diving community.

How often should divers review their skills and knowledge? It’s recommended that divers regularly refresh their skills, especially if they haven’t been diving for an extended period. Many dive operators offer refresher courses for this purpose.

By prioritizing education and skill development, divers can ensure they are well-prepared to handle various situations underwater, from avoiding coral cuts to responding appropriately to more serious diving emergencies.

Conclusion: Balancing Adventure and Safety in Marine Environments

Exploring the underwater world, with its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, offers unparalleled experiences. However, it’s crucial to approach these adventures with a balance of enthusiasm and caution. Understanding the risks associated with coral cuts, the importance of proper diving techniques, and the need for ongoing education allows divers and snorkelers to enjoy marine environments safely and responsibly.

By taking proactive measures to prevent injuries, knowing how to respond when incidents occur, and continuously improving diving skills, enthusiasts can minimize risks while maximizing their enjoyment of the underwater world. Moreover, this knowledge contributes to the preservation of delicate marine ecosystems, ensuring that future generations can also experience the beauty and wonder of coral reefs.

Remember, every dive is an opportunity to learn and grow as an underwater explorer. Stay curious, stay safe, and always respect the marine environment you’re privileged to visit.

Healthy Diving: Treating Coral Scrapes and Sea Urchin Wounds, Missed Safety Stops and Learning Breathing Techniques

Fire Coral in Indonesia

Shutterstock

Fire Coral Scars

I came into contact with what I believe was fire coral in the British Virgin Islands about five weeks ago. Thinking it wouldn’t be much of a problem, I didn’t see a doctor until the rash worsened several days later, after I returned home. I have been using a prescription cream, Cormax, for four weeks and the rash is about 80 percent better. However, the entire area is still visibly darker, almost like a burn scar, with a couple bumps. Is there something else I should do? Will this scar completely heal?
via e-mail

Coral scrapes do have a tendency to become both chronically irritated and infected. Occasionally, coral scrapes and cuts will have trouble healing and break out in a chronic dermatitis or a weeping wound. This is thought to be due to the persistent toxic or allergic effects of the small bits of coral (often microscopic) that are embedded in the wound at the time of the injury.

Initially, wounds should be flushed with large quantities of vinegar or whatever sterile fluid you have available. You should get a tetanus shot and treat the wound with a combination of triple antibiotic/steroid cream until healing occurs.

If the wound does not appear to be healing after 24 to 36 hours, check with your doctor to see if you need to undergo a procedure called debridement (removal of foreign bodies). Hyperpigmentation (dark color changes) is more difficult to manage and requires the assistance of a good dermatologist.

Cormax is the trade name for clobetasol, a topical steroid cream. It reduces or inhibits the actions of chemicals in the body that cause inflammation, redness and swelling. It is used to treat the inflammation caused by a number of conditions such as allergic reactions, eczema and psoriasis and would possibly be indicated for the coral dermatitis that you seem to have. People have varying reactions to the dermatitis and the medication. Most dermatologists are highly trained to manage conditions of this nature and a visit to one might be wise in the long run.

Missed Safety Stop = Near Miss?

The sixth Caribbean dive of our week started easily, but when I ran low on air, my fiance and I ascended from 40 feet to our safety stop. Although we ascended slowly, we missed 15 feet. After hovering around 10 feet for a minute, we surfaced. The water was choppy, a strong current pulled us around, the warm air had cooled and it was raining. We used a towel to keep us somewhat warm on the chilly 10-minute boat ride back. After rinsing our gear, we did a brisk walk/jog up 200 steps to our hillside bungalow to shower and warm up. My fiance mentioned that she had cotton mouth and was pretty thirsty. Shortly after she got out of the shower her fingers began to ache and were tingly. I ran back down to the dive shop and called DAN. They said my fiance had felt the tingling because she took a hot shower when she was cold–more of a circulation issue than DCS. A couple hours later, her hands felt fine and there has not been anything wrong since then. Should she get checked out by a dive physician anyway?
via e-mail

I don’t think so. Coming up cold and tired is typical after a dive. Even though her ascent might have been rapid and irregular due to the wave action and surge, increasing the risk of both DCS and pulmonary barotrauma (and possible gas embolism), I think DAN made the right call. Both the run up the hill and the hot shower can possibly release bubbles in the tissues. However, your fianc?s clinical picture does not indicate DCS.

Inhale, Exhale

In the May issue, you told a new diver how she could make the transition from breathing through her nose to breathing through her mouth. I’m having the same problem, even after following your suggestion of first learning to inhale through my mouth and exhale through my nose. Do you have any other suggestions?
via e-mail

Try following these steps:

• Set your mask aside for a moment. Using your snorkel, breathe through your mouth while gently lowering your body into the water until the water is just below eye level–your mouth and nose submerged. Initially you may need to exhale small amounts of air through your nose, but you will soon be able to inhale and exhale through your mouth into the snorkel without water intrusion. Take your time and take slow, deep breaths.

• While keeping your mouth and nose under water, shift to a second stage regulator. It is normal during snorkel and regulator exchanges for small amounts of water to enter your mouth.

• Once a series of these exchanges is mastered, repeat with your scuba mask in place, remaining in shallow water until you are fully comfortable with the exchanges.

• With your BC partially inflated, swim around the shallow end of the pool while doing snorkel-to-regulator exchanges until you are comfortable performing the skill.

5-Step Plan for Sea Urchin Wounds

by Arlene Perlmutter

The dangers of sea urchins are well-known to divers. Not only do their needles contain venom that causes burning, swelling, redness and pain, but more severe complications can include infection, numbness or even paralysis. An allergy to the venom can be life-threatening.

If you have a run-in with a sea urchin, follow these steps:

• Elevate the affected area and apply a pressure bandage. This helps slow the absorption of any venom in the wound. Do not apply a tourniquet.

• Immerse the wound in very hot water (115F), or as hot as you can tolerate, for 30 to 90 minutes. Many marine toxins are proteins which are destroyed by heat. A hot soak can dramatically reduce the pain and damage caused by a sting.

• Control the pain. The pain from marine stings can be excruciating and lead to shock. Usually only local anesthetics are needed, but, in rare cases, systemic pain relievers or narcotics may be needed.

• Cleanse the wound with an antiseptic solution. Washing out remaining venom and pieces of spine will help minimize damage, speed healing and prevent infection. Leave an inaccessible spine alone only if it has not penetrated a joint, nerve or blood vessel.

• Seek appropriate medical care. Some wounds require surgical cleansing and repair, antibiotics for infection control, and possibly antivenins and life support for severe stings. It is not always immediately obvious which stings will need more intensive medical care, so if possible, get care for all stings.

Animal Bites and Cuts | Travel Doctor-TMVC

ALERT: All persons attending a medical appointment at a Travel Doctor-TMVC clinic will be required to answer COVID-19 triage questions. If you are deemed to be a COVID-19 risk we will need to undertake a risk assessment, which may include rapid antigen testing.

In the event of a bite from a dog, monkey, cat, or other animal and you are in a rabies-infected country, seek medical attention immediately. You may need post-exposure vaccination even if you have been previously immunised against rabies.

Spider Bites

Remain calm as most spiders are not poisonous. If possible, catch the spider and place it in a jar, sealing it with tape so it can then be taken to the local hospital for identification.

Scorpion Bites

Scorpions are common in Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, but less frequent in Asia. Scorpions are active at night, hiding under rocks or in shoes during the day. They only bite when disturbed, but the sting can be very painful. Some species are poisonous so consult a local doctor. If the pain is severe the doctor may suggest an injection of local anaesthetic to provide relief.

Snake Bites

Remain calm. Although most snake bites are not poisonous, treat any bite as if it is. Note the time of the bite and try to identify the snake from a distance. DO NOT try to catch the snake. Many people have been bitten trying to catch snakes following a bite. If possible, take note of its colouring, any unusual markings, and its general size.

Treatment

1. Remain as still as possible.
2. Firmly apply a crepe or elastic compression bandage to the whole of the affected limb, working from the bite site first and then upwards to the trunk.
3. Immobilise the limb with a splint to minimise the spread of the venom.
4. Do not attempt to suck out the poison, cut the wound, or use a tourniquet.
5. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Tick Bites

Ticks climb onto grass and other vegetation then latch onto animals and humans as they pass by. Tick Borne Encephalitis is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected tick of the Ixodes species. Ticks may breed around homes and in local parks too. Humans are often unaware that they have been bitten.

Prevention

When spending time outdoors – especially in rural or forested areas – stop ticks from hitching a ride by:

• Walking in the centre of trails, avoiding wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
• Wearing a long-sleeved shirt and trousers, tucking trousers into socks.
• Applying Repel insect repellent to exposed skin.
• Soaking your clothing, hat, boots, and socks with a solution of permethrin. A safe, proven contact insecticide, permethrin remains effective even after several washes.

DIY permethrin kits are available at Travel Doctor-TMVC clinics.

Most tick-borne illnesses do not develop until the tick has been attached for more than 24 hours.

Thoroughly scan your body at the end of each day. Check for ticks under arms, in and around the ears, inside the navel, behind the knees, in the groin area, around the waist, and in hair.

Treatment

Using fine-tipped (not blunt noses) tweezers or a tick remover, grasp the tick from the side (not from above) as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upwards steadily. After removing all traces of the tick, clean the bite area thoroughly using antiseptic and wash your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.

Bleeding Wounds

Wear disposable gloves to minimise contact with blood. Apply firm pressure to the bleeding wound with a sterile pad for at least three minutes. Do not use a tourniquet.

If a foreign object is embedded in the wound, apply pressure around the site or on the side of the wound closest to the heart. Never remove large foreign objects in a wound as this may make the bleeding worse. Maintain pressure until the bleeding stops.

If possible, raise the bleeding area above the level of the heart. Keep the injured person warm and lying down. Take them to the nearest medical facility, or call for help. Do not leave them alone.

Nose Bleeds

Hold the affected nostril/s closed. If available, place a cold pack on the bridge of the nose. In most cases the bleeding will stop within 15 minutes. If bleeding is heavy or persistent seek medical advice.

Strains and Sprains

For the first 48 hours, the RICE regime can help to speed up healing. This regime involves:

Rest: Do not overwork the affected area while it is healing. Return to normal activities gradually.

Ice: During the first 24 hours, cooling the affected area will decrease swelling and speed healing. Apply a cold pack until the area is cold and feels numb, then remove it for 10-15 minutes (put it in the freezer, if possible). Apply the cold pack on and off for up to 24 hours.

Compression: Apply a crepe bandage to provide gentle pressure to support the injured area and protect it from further injury. Work from the end of the limb towards the trunk. Stretch the bandage slightly as you wrap.

Elevation: If possible, raise the injured part above the level of the heart to reduce swelling.

See a doctor if the injury is severe, especially if there is extensive bruising or deformity, or it is very painful when taking any weight.

Coral Cut Treatment

The treatment for coral cuts is the same as for normal wounds except that invisible particles of coral and marine slime often contaminate the wound. It is important to clean and treat even small coral cuts by:

• Flushing them with clean water (not seawater) for five minutes.
• Gently scrubbing the wound with sterile gauze or a new soft toothbrush to remove any contaminants.
• Applying antiseptic powder, cream, or iodine.
• Starting a course of oral antibiotics at the first signs of infection.
• Seek medical advice.

Do not be tempted to ignore minor wounds. In the tropics, minor cuts and scratches can easily become infected if not treated properly and tropical ulcers can be hard to cure.

• Always wash your hands with soap and water before touching wounds and wear disposable gloves.
• Flush wounds thoroughly with clean water or a saline solution. (To make a saline solution add one teaspoon of salt to one cup of clean water).
• If clean water is unavailable, use an antiseptic cleansing tissue and wipe away from the wound to avoid further contamination.
• After cleaning, use clean gauze to apply a thin layer of iodine.
• Cover the wound using a plaster or non-adhesive dressing.
• Leave the dressing for three days, then remove and apply a clean one.

Pain, swelling, redness, or a discharge from the wound is an indication it is infected and may need to be treated with antibiotics. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

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Basic injuries at sea and how to treat them

One of the basic rules for any form of diving and just being in the ocean is “do not touch” . We all know that keeping ourselves in control and not touching anything underwater is not only respect for the underwater world that we visit as guests, but also the best way to avoid damage and injury. However, in some cases contact is inevitable.

Most of us still have a painful encounter with a marine organism at some point, whether it’s contact with coral or a jellyfish sting. It is important to know how to respond to this. In this article, we will look at the treatment of several common marine injuries. In most cases, these steps may be enough. In severe cases, they can provide crucial support while the casualty waits for professional help.

Earlier we wrote about the 10 most dangerous animals in the ocean. We recommend that you read this article too.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish stings range from unpleasant to life-threatening. The severity of the sting depends on several factors, including the type of jellyfish, the part of the body affected, the size of the affected area, and the physiology of the prey. For example, young children or older people are more likely to have more severe symptoms, and some people may have a severe allergic reaction.

As with all marine injuries, the first step is to get the victim out of the water. If a species is identified as highly endangered, the second step is to alert emergency services. Medical attention is also required if the victim experiences severe symptoms, including difficulty breathing. Avoid rubbing the damaged area or direct exposure, as this may cause uncleaned stinging cells or nematocysts to release their venom.

Using any object (tweezers, gloves, piece of cloth, etc.), remove any visible remnants of tentacles from the affected area. Treat the affected area with vinegar or lemon juice. This helps to neutralize stinging cells. Do not use fresh water for rinsing! This can increase the action of the poison and release more cells.

Applying cold (ice pack) to the injured area or warm (hot water?) is said to reduce pain and swelling.

Lionfish, rockfish, scorpionfish

All of these fish have venomous spines that can cause very serious injury if they penetrate the diver’s skin. As a rule, professional medical help is required for treatment. The most dangerous of these fish is the stone fish. First aid for all three injuries is the same, so they are grouped together.

First, transport the casualty out of the water. Then carefully remove all visible fragments of the needle from the wound using tweezers. When the wound is clean, place the affected area of ​​the body with the wound in very hot water for 30 to 90 minutes or until medical help arrives. It must be very hot, but so that the victim can endure, without scalding. The heat breaks down the proteins in the venom, causing it to deactivate. If the wound is difficult to submerge (it is on the torso or head), you can cover it with a hot cloth instead.

Sea urchins

The treatment recommended for lionfish and stones also applies to injuries caused by sea urchin spines. These spines are often very fragile, so great care must be taken not to break them when removed from under the skin. If the needle has entered deeply and cannot be removed, or the puncture is near the joint, be sure to seek medical attention. In the latter case, failure to properly heal the wound can eventually lead to dysfunction of the joint due to nerve damage.

Sea urchins come in many different types and levels of danger. For example, hedgehogs in the Red Sea with small spines are quite poisonous, and an untreated wound can fester for a long time and even lead to infection.

But in Thailand, there are a lot of black hedgehogs with long spines, which, although they look scary, are not poisonous. Local residents treat injuries very simply, painfully, but effectively. We have repeatedly tested this method on ourselves when there is no needle or tweezers at hand. The site of the lesion must be beaten for a long time and with force in order to crumble the needles. Usually, a stone or a lead weight may be suitable for this, the corner of which is beaten into the affected area in order to crush the needles. The procedure is very painful! Use this method at your own risk. After the needles have crumbled, treat the place several times with lemon juice. As a rule, within a couple of days, even multiple injections resolve.

Coral cuts

Coral cuts and abrasions take a long time to heal and fester easily. This is because the microorganisms that coat the coral structures contaminate the wound, making the injury more severe than a similar abrasion sustained on land. The first step is to stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound.

When bleeding stops, rinse area thoroughly with clean fresh water. This helps to remove coral fragments and micro-organisms, reducing the chance of further infection. The wound should then be washed with antibacterial soap, hydrogen peroxide, or another antiseptic. Then treat the wound with an antibiotic cream, bandage or stick with a band-aid. Be sure to change the bandage regularly and seek medical attention if an infection occurs.

Fire coral

Despite its name, fire coral is not really a coral. It is an anemone-like organism that stings painfully and should be treated in the same way as a jellyfish sting. In severe cases or in the event of an allergic reaction, emergency medical attention may be required. Identifying fire coral stings can be difficult as symptoms can take up to 30 minutes to appear. Contact is detected by intense burning followed by a red rash. In case of severe pain, it can be relieved with an anesthetic cream and conventional pain relievers.

Animal bites

Although it is very rare for sea creatures to attack humans, it does happen. The severity of the bite depends largely on the size of the animal that inflicts it. For example, a trigger bite is much easier to handle and treat than a shark bite. However, the basic care for all bites (and, in fact, for most bleeding) is the same. First, remove the victim from the water, and then, if the bite is severe, contact emergency medical services.

Apply direct pressure to the wound. If bleeding continues, add more dressings over the injury rather than relieve pressure by removing the first layer of dressings. If the wound is on a limb, try to keep it above the level of the heart – this will reduce blood flow to the affected area, thereby helping to minimize blood loss. Pain shock is the second problem after blood loss. Be prepared to give the victim oxygen if he has trouble breathing. By standards, pure oxygen cylinders for emergencies should be in any dive center.

If the wound is minor and does not require sutures, wait until the bleeding has stopped and then flush with fresh water. Apply an antiseptic and bandage the damaged area. Don’t forget to change the bandage and watch for infection.

In the tropics, any wounds heal longer than in the climate we are used to. Try not to wet the injured area and do not swim in the ocean until you are sure that the wound has completely healed.

PS : These and other first aid methods, including CPR, use of an oxygen tank, first aid for domestic injuries, burns, fractures, etc. we’re learning React Right’s first aid course. It can be useful not only for divers and freedivers (for them, starting from a certain level, the course becomes mandatory), but also for everyone who wants to be prepared for unforeseen situations both in the water and in everyday life. The course is interesting and very practical. It is used to develop specific skills and play out real situations that can be encountered both in sports and in everyday life.

Safe and enjoyable diving!

If you get hurt by corals – how to treat the cut

Coral reefs fascinate. They are beautiful and attract the attention of not only numerous inhabitants of the water world, but also diving enthusiasts. In addition, they represent a very extensive and important ecosystem of the oceans. Tourists visiting the resorts of the Red Sea, the islands of New Caledonia, the coast of Australia and about. Madagascar or about. Fiji, from a meeting with the coral kingdom, not only pleasure can be obtained, but also such unpleasant surprises as cuts and scratches. In the article we will look at what to do if you get hurt by corals.

Dangerous corals

The fringing reefs pose the greatest threat to humans, where there are many dangerous corals. Their “settlements” are especially numerous in shallow areas. Such corals form whole plateaus during growth, and from the leeward side small islands and spits, consisting of sand and shell rock, are washed on them with water. Coastal cay reefs are rarely seen on the surface at low tide, as they have the ability to skillfully disguise themselves in thickets of seaweed.

Today, diving is a popular recreational activity. Undoubtedly, it includes looking at the bizarre reef inhabitants. If you accidentally injured yourself on corals, then you should immediately contact the doctors if possible. Worst of all, if the injury occurred in contact with the “fire” coral. His burns are very painful, heal for a long time and can even turn into trophic ulcers.

Coral cut help

First aid for coral cuts can be provided directly at the dive center.

Washing the wound

If fresh water is available, the wound can be washed with it, then lathered, and rinsed well again. To get rid of the remnants of coral dust, the damaged areas are washed again with water and hydrogen peroxide, taken in a ratio of 1 to 1. Then the wound can be covered with a layer of ointment that contains antibiotics.

Vinegar

The instructor always has a “special tool” at the ready, with which emergency treatment of coral wounds is possible. This is ordinary vinegar, in which gauze or a cotton swab is moistened and then the affected skin is thoroughly rubbed. Vinegar is a kind of folk method that cannot be taken as a panacea; additional medication cannot be excluded.

Ointment

Coral cut care should include treating the injured area with a burn and disinfectant emulsion or ointment. Well-established remedies include Panthenol, Bepanten, Rescuer, as well as Feniran hydrocolloid gel.

Preparations for the treatment of coral cuts

Zelenka and iodine

If your first aid kit contains only brilliant greens and iodine, then you should keep in mind that only the edges of a deep cut can be carefully treated with brilliant green and iodine. Such means cannot be filled with a wound, since there is a possibility of obtaining an additional burn.

Fukortsin

If you get hurt by corals, fukortsin is a good remedy for the cut. To treat a wound with this remedy, it is necessary to wash the cut with hydrogen peroxide.