In all likelihood, if you’re stung by a lionfish, you’ll know immediately. Getting stuck with the spines is painful on its own, and you’ll probably see the lionfish swimming away. The pain from the sting typically sets in within 3-4 minutes.
Most lionfish stings are on the hands. In this case, remove any rings or bracelets so doctors don’t have to cut them off later. Also remove any pieces of clothing that could cut off your circulation when the area swells, like your glove.
If the spines are stuck and won’t come out, leave them in place. Let medical professionals remove them later.
The best option is holding the wound under a faucet. If you’re not near a faucet, then a hose will work as well. Don’t use cold water. This will make the pain worse. Use fresh water to clean the wound. If you are at the beach, do not use ocean water. If you don’t have access to clean water or soap, you can use disinfectant wipes from a first aid kit, or rubbing alcohol.
Depending on how long ago you got stung, this could be very painful. Work through the pain and press down to stop the bleeding.
Test the water first by just dipping your fingertip in. If you can’t tolerate the heat, then make the water cooler. Don’t make the water hotter than 113 °F (45 °C) or you could get burned. If you don’t have access to hot water, heating pads or packs will also work. It’s very important not to use ice on a lionfish sting, even if you see swelling. The cold will intensify your pain. Stick to heat for the first 2 hours after the sting.
You could also visit a local urgent care facility if one is nearby. They can clean and dress the wound as well. In some cases, lionfish stings can cause tissue necrosis, or death of the affected tissue. The necrosis can spread and cause serious damage if it’s not spotted and treated right away.
The pain could also cause someone to go into shock. Symptoms include anxiety, confusion, dizziness, rapid but weak pulse, shallow breathing, and unconsciousness. Contact emergency services if you see signs of shock in a sting victim. [9] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source
Only apply ice at least 2 hours after the sting. Any time before that can make the pain worse.
Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen are best. These will reduce the swelling and prevent tissue damage. If you’re still in pain after taking these drugs, speak with your doctor about a stronger prescription.
Common antibiotic creams are Neosporin, Bacitracin, and numerous generic products. They’re all widely available at pharmacies. If you have a first aid kit, there is probably some kind of antibacterial cream in there as well. You can also apply the cream to a bandage before putting it over the wound. If the pain increases or the wound gets very red or discolored, it may be getting infected. Contact your doctor right away for an exam.
If you use sticky bandages, make sure the non-stick pad covers the wound. If you use gauze wrap, keep them loose to avoid cutting off circulation to the area.
You could also use the “abort dive” signal by making an X across your chest.
It usually takes a few minutes for the poison to start causing pain. This gives you a grace period to reach the surface safely. You might be tempted to start rising faster after the pain starts kicking in. Resist that urge and continue rising at the normal rate. Don’t keep the wound covered as you rise. Let the wound bleed out so the poison flushes out.
