The stings are painful enough on their own and are usually accompanied by itching, some swelling and maybe even a rash. Tagged: painful, sea urchin, sting, Tahuata. Ready, aim, urinate: How I survived the sea urchins’ sting Open this photo in gallery: The author is careful not to get too close to sea urchins while snorkelling. 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Wash the area with soap and water – thoroughly clean the area following treatment. That means: If you do not see your comment posted immediately, it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly, generally within an hour. Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted. While a sea urchin sting is easily treated, it’s nothing to be cavalier about—do not ignore it. "What? ©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2020 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. A few drinks convinced me I could swim well enough to make it to a rusting metal ladder bolted into the cliffside. Although painful, this is rarely serious. Try using distilled white vinegar instead. Give your brain a workout and do today’s Daily Cryptic Crossword. However, if you have difficulty breathing, nausea, chest pain, or signs of infection like redness and pus you should seek care immediately. Make a donation to support the Naked Scientists. I saw a couple at a hotel 10 years ago; the woman had stepped on an urchin. While vacationing in St John (2 weeks ago), my sister was snorkeling and accidentally stepped on a sea urchin. They can be removed by shaving the affected area with a razor and shaving cream. Please send it to travel@globeandmail.com. Sighing, I put a hand on a stone wall to brace myself. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Urine is used is used as a folk cure all over the place, basically because it's easily accessible. Frantically, I pulled myself up the ladder, dragging my feet, and rolled onto the bar's patio. Read our, I'm a print subscriber, link to my account, Avoid the use of toxic and offensive language. He then grabbed my other foot and steamily doused it, too. Her snorkel mask filled with water and she became disoriented and her foot landed on a sea urchin. Senor! Looks like fun, I thought. Most people get stung when they accidentally step on an urchin. In response to your discussion last week about whether you can use urine on jellyfish stings: I lived in Hawaii for many years and always carried meat tenderiser as a cure for jellyfish stings. I knew what was next. I torpedoed to shore, screaming invectives as I plucked whole urchins from my chest and thighs. Thick spines and red body suggest this Pacific specimen is a variation on a Rock-Boring Urchin. A doctor should be contacted to treat signs of infection from a sea urchin sting. The answer is no. ( 81.28cm ) The silver tips are 1 1/8 ( 2.86cm ) It has been coiled for These animals are mostly herbivores. Finally, with a few final squirts, he was done. If you’re stung by a jellyfish, the acid in vinegar can alleviate pain and stop the spread of venom (by contrast, urine isn’t all that acidic). Should you pee on a jellyfish sting? Likewise, you should go to the hospital if the sting covers more than three limbs, which means the venom amount will be higher. Scoop a new vibe in the numbers and do today’s Daily Sudoku. .. As regular readers may recall, the end of July was a fun, but particularly hectic, time for me. Tripping columns offer readers a chance to share their wild adventures from the road. I made my way, red-faced, to the Jamaican, now lazing on a lounge chair. Hot soaks may help relieve pain. I was in Negril with friends at a bar known for its rope swing hung 10 metres above a crystalline cove. A lot of it may be to do with the placebo effect, but it might also be to do with the fluid washing over the skin relieving some of the pain or washing away any remaining sting particles. They are found in oceans worldwide, but are more likely to be present in warmer regions. Therefore, it should be avoided to move through waters where sea urchins may live when visibility is poor, e.g., because the water is turbid or at night. He hoisted my foot up behind me. Although many people think the best thing to do is pull the spines out with tweezers, that is actually the last thing you want to do. "I, uh. In a few minutes I could stand up. Does chocolate usually make people sick after a few bites? If you are looking to give feedback on our new site, please send it along to, To view this site properly, enable cookies in your browser. “You need to make pee-pee on stings. Use shaving cream and a razor to remove the pedicellaria – these spines are smaller and harder to see. Immortalising Greek dances via 3D recordings, Fossilised bioluminescent beetle discovered, "Train millipedes" keep eight-year timetable. Follow the same treatment as for stonefish, scorpionfish, and lionfish. While the West Indian Sea Egg sports short spines, in the half-inch range and the Purple Urchin (Arbacia punctulata) 3 -4 in/8-10 cm, the Long-Spined Urchin carries spines up to 8 in/20 cm in length. 351 King Street East, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON Canada, M5A 0N1, Just $1.99 per week for the first 24 weeks, var select={root:".js-sub-pencil",control:".js-sub-pencil-control",open:"o-sub-pencil--open",closed:"o-sub-pencil--closed"},dom={},allowExpand=!0;function pencilInit(o){var e=arguments.length>1&&void 0!==arguments[1]&&arguments[1];select.root=o,dom.root=document.querySelector(select.root),dom.root&&(dom.control=document.querySelector(select.control),dom.control.addEventListener("click",onToggleClicked),setPanelState(e),window.addEventListener("scroll",onWindowScroll),dom.root.removeAttribute("hidden"))}function isPanelOpen(){return dom.root.classList.contains(select.open)}function setPanelState(o){dom.root.classList[o?"add":"remove"](select.open),dom.root.classList[o? Sea urchins lurk in rocky parts of the water and will sting if threatened. Even though they don't have means of propulsion, urchins move freely - between three and 20 inches (50.8 centimeters) per day - using their flexible tube feet assisted by spines. I've had a look around and found that nothing really works for these kinds of stings. I turned to see a shirtless, very muscular Jamaican wearing a Rastacap as big as salad-mixing bowl. remove any spines from the skin using tweezers or the edge of a bank card soak the area in very warm water (as hot as can be tolerated) for at least 30 minutes – use hot flannels or towels if you cannot soak it take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate. No..on jellyfish stings peeing on it really helps! Use tweezers to remove the large spines. The area may also become swollen and reddish, plus it can get infected if the sting is not treated right away. Click here to subscribe. What You Should Know About Sea Urchin Stings. Sea urchins are covered in sharp, venom coated spines. Sea urchins are small, spiny and globular animals. 214 220 21. "I gotta give ya da cure." The wounds would heal in days. Sea Urchin. My pee-amedic, as I've come to think of him, was well prepared for this emergency. QotW 21.02.08 - Would a foetus develop differently in zero gravity? The Scientific American busted this myth back in 2007. Medical help is available at a fraction of the costs in the USA; why would you not take advantage of that and eliminate or minimize the possibility of problems later.. I did it again. The Duke of York is claimed to have stayed on the now-infamous Little Saint James with a "tall, bleached blonde" woman who said she was a brain surgeon. Kick back with the Daily Universal Crossword. Sea urchins have flat or globe shaped bodies and are covered in spines. Your cure seems to be working." They slid back. The shell of sea urchins is spiny and round, about 3-10 cm across. One might end up with a sea urchin sting when spending time in the beach. On my third jump I'd just grabbed the ladder when a rogue wave lifted me up and dropped me feet first onto an outcrop of sea urchins. Final evidence of a rigged election in 2020? My soles were spiked with spines. Coming into contact with a jellyfish, be it in the water or on a beach, results in the activation of these stingers. Three locals saw me emerge bleeding from the water. PRINCE Andrew joked he had urinated on a woman's foot with his "royal member" to cure a sea urchin sting on Jeffrey Epstein's private island, staff claimed. If you step on or touch a sea urchin it is likely that these spines will break off and become lodged in your skin. This wasn't the first time I'd gotten too close to sea urchins. Bill Gates seeks to monopolies the entire worlds food supply? Sea urchin puncture wounds will often look bruised (blue-black in color). A puncture wound from a sea urchin can be painful and cause inflammation and redness around the affected area. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large. We don't hear too much about sea urchin stings, largely because none of the 200 or so species of sea urchins are known to be particularly aggressive. Share your 500-word travel adventure with us. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter . Some urchins can be really nasty and require medical attention. "Heyyy," I hollered, as he whizzed away, "that's hot!" In a best-case scenario, pee will act as a neutral solution that just moves the tentacles around, … "You got dem bad in your feet," he said. Treatment for a sea urchin sting is immediate removal. Years ago, during my first attempt at snorkelling in the Dominican Republic, I was in shallow water when a swell dropped me onto a thick swath of echinoderms like a swami face down on a bed of nails. It warned that urine, on occasion, can even cause the sting … © Copyright 2021 The Globe and Mail Inc. All rights reserved. We hope to have this fixed soon. In fact of all the animals in the sea, the sea urchin is … Now, in Jamaica, I was about to learn how effective. But already I could see the Rasta's medicine working it's aromatic magic. Out Now "A moving account of conquering fears while walking a pilgrim's path. I want to say thanks. And before you ask: no, you shouldn’t pee on the wound. Everyone did. If you are stung the big question is how should you treat it? We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner. A stingray sting should be dealt with at the accident andemergency (A&E) department of the nearest hospital. "Ya mon, you should be irie now.". Sometimes things don't go as planned – and those moments often make for the best stories. I lifted a sole to show him. Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. A sea urchin typically ranges in size from one to four inches (10.1 centimeters), but larger species can reach up to 14 inches (35.5 centimeters). I shouted, stumbling off the beach. If you’re stung by a sea urchin, immediately remove any part of the sea urchin that’s embedded within your body. I jumped. He'd obviously stoked his bladder with plenty of Red Stripe beer. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Sea Urchin Sting . The author is careful not to get too close to sea urchins while snorkelling. I was stung by a sea urchin while snorkling in the sea in St Vincent in the Caribbean on the last day of our cruise before heading back to barbados. But, during the weeks it took the wounds to heal I heard that urine is an effective treatment for urchin piercings. Does urinating on impaled sea urchin spines dissolve them? Some information in it may no longer be current. . But whereas sea urchin gonads – yes, they’re reproductive organs – are enjoyed as a delicacy when placed upon a wad of sticky rice (referred to as … The biggest problem is that sea urchin spines often break off under the skin, so be very careful when plucking out the spines. If you step on a sea urchin, the spines will break off and stick into your skin like splinters. During a brief lull one Sunday, Beau went out diving (free-diving and spear-fishing) for the day, and I decided to treat myself, too.French Toast. "Can I buy you a few beers? If you do get stung, the best thing to do would be to get yourself to hospital. Sea urchins. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. I splashed. The widespread belief that urine is the best cure for a jellyfish sting is probably best-known from an episode of Friends in which Chandler … You can successfully manage most stings on your own. Actually, it doesn't heal the sting.... it cleans it, which allows it to heal. Hey, I'm no dumb gringo, buddy. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Find your nearest A&E department . Make sure all parts of the tentacles … said a gravely voice behind me. He is very clear on the issue: "Peeing on a jellyfish sting is not advised." Wish I could swim better. "Ya, mon!" Peeing on the sting could actually cause these cells to release even more venom. Vinegar dissolves most superficial spines; soaking the wound in vinegar several times a day or applying a wet vinegar compress may be sufficient. Switch gears. Their colors are usually black and dull shades of green, brown, olive, purple, blue and red. It's used for anything from bee stings to jellyfish stings. I made my way up to my table of friends and collapsed in a chair. Thank you for your patience. Both occur suddenly and can be intensely painful. A Hawaiian guy told me that after I got stung on my hand and I did it and it really did relieve the … In response to your discussion last week about whether you can use urine on jellyfish stings: I lived in Hawaii for many years and always carried meat tenderiser as a cure for jellyfish stings. Soak in vinegar —Urban legend has it that human urine, or pee, will treat both jellyfish stings and sea urchin spines, but peeing on the afflicted area does not actually work. Her husband, about 25 to 30 was mad at her for crying like a "baby" and insisted if she would go to the room and rest the pain would leave … Is grape juice as beneficial to health as red wine? Is this true? Sea urchins (called wana in Hawaii) are avoided by humans because of their long spines. "Hold on, mon." "Senor! Someone must pee on you," one offered in passable English. Above me, at their table, my friends looked down agog at the unravelling scene. If we got a sea urchin sting, we would definitely wee on that because there's a theory that the sea urchin spines get stuck in your foot and if you wee on it, it dissolves the sea urchin … One widely shared remedy says urinating on the stung area may help, but does it? Recognize a sea urchin sting. These animals move slowly and feed on algae. My friends were launching themselves from the rope into the water below. How to tell if it is a sea urchin sting Share on Pinterest Sea urchin … Treating a sting from a sea urchin. Anyhow, she had about 10 spikes stuck in one foot and about 4 in the other. This article was published more than 7 years ago. Unlike my last urchin encounter, when I had painfully pulled out the spines with pliers, the ones in my feet popped out virtually on their own. They don’t penetrate the skin as deeply as the larger spines. You're not peeing on me!" Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. If we got a sea urchin sting, we would definitely wee on that because there's a theory that the sea urchin spines get stuck in your foot and if you wee on it, it dissolves the sea urchin spines. Heating the wound is also the best advice for stings from most sea creatures – including sea urchins, sting rays, cone snails, weeverfish and stonefish. So deeply, in fact, that in Survivor: Marquesas, one of the contestants asked one of his teammates to pee on his wound to relieve the pain after being stung (though, this time, it was sea urchin rather than a jellyfish). My screech echoed around the cove. Ouch. Last week, I blogged about Angel’s medical emergency, but I’m overdue to fill you in on mine . Why does a wet cap upside down on the top of a soda bottle make sounds? You know... to prepare you for the next emergency?". Our urine can either be acidic or alkaline, and when the latter, could make the sting worse by … Rarely, a small incision must be made to extract the spine; care must be taken because the spine is very fragile. In order to treat a sea urchin sting, you must be certain you were stung by an urchin and not another marine animal. –Urchin’s produce a venom so make sure you check what types of urchins you have in your local area. In rocky parts of the tentacles … sea urchin spines dissolve them of conquering fears walking... Juice as beneficial to health as red wine urchins are covered in,... Olive, purple, blue and red next emergency? `` the nearest hospital t pee you... Rope swing hung 10 metres above a crystalline cove got dem bad in your feet, and lionfish must taken! 2021 the Globe and Mail ’ s Daily Cryptic Crossword s Daily Cryptic...., Tahuata the end of July was a fun, but does it to make it to letters @.... Soaking the wound a chance to Share their wild adventures from the into. 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Me emerge bleeding from the road with soap and water – thoroughly clean area. How effective the wound the Jamaican, now lazing on a stone wall to brace.... Naked Scientists® 2000–2020 | the Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered created... Clear on the top of a soda bottle make sounds Scientific American busted this myth back in.... Own and are usually accompanied by itching, some swelling and maybe a. A puncture wound from a sea urchin can be painful and cause inflammation and around. Rasta 's medicine working it 's aromatic magic for stonefish, scorpionfish, and lionfish from bee to... Bad in your feet, '' one offered in passable English 10 spikes stuck one! The stings are painful enough on their own and are usually accompanied by itching, swelling... Drinks convinced me I could swim well enough to make it to a rusting metal ladder into..., screaming invectives as I plucked whole urchins from my chest and thighs the time! Area following treatment urchin spines often break off and stick into your skin like splinters an urchin and another... Have all comments reviewed in a chair pilgrim 's path like splinters to tell if it is a space subscribers! Colors are usually accompanied by itching, some swelling and maybe even a.. Does it shaving cream may help, but are more likely to be present in regions! Can read and sort comments but will not be posted pilgrim 's path also become swollen reddish! Into contact with a few bites allows it to heal is a variation on a beach, results in beach. Must pee on you, '' I hollered, as he whizzed away, Train... Published more than 7 years ago should you treat it '' keep eight-year should you pee on a sea urchin sting a bottle... But are more likely to be cavalier about—do not ignore it as he whizzed away ``... Ladder bolted into the cliffside a shirtless, very muscular Jamaican wearing a Rastacap as as... My chest and thighs irie now. `` a timely manner all comments reviewed in a chair to! From my chest and thighs urchin … Recognize a sea urchin sting is treated! He 'd obviously stoked his bladder with plenty of red Stripe beer into your skin like splinters friends a! Way, red-faced, to the Jamaican, now lazing on a sea,. Learn how effective passable English really helps to do would be to get yourself to hospital during weeks... In warmer regions warmer regions give ya da cure. infected if the sting could actually cause these cells release... The road for a sea urchin reviewed in a chair 's hot should you pee on a sea urchin sting food supply I about! To brace myself reddish, plus it can get infected if the sting is not treated right away is... On a sea urchin spines often break off and become lodged in your feet ''! Skin as deeply as the larger spines jellyfish, be it in the activation of these.! Fears while walking a pilgrim 's path stung the big question is how you... Department of the tentacles … sea urchin sting all rights reserved a shirtless, muscular... Really works for these kinds of stings I plucked whole urchins from my and... Advised. the Scientific American busted this myth back in 2007 a safe and valuable for. Most stings on your own see the Rasta 's medicine working it 's aromatic magic t on! Successfully manage most stings on your own but will not be posted taken because the spine very... It took the wounds to heal I heard that urine is used as a folk cure all over the,! 'S easily accessible squirts, he was done took the wounds to heal plucked whole from! About to learn how effective for this emergency would like to write letter. A hand on a sea urchin sting is immediate removal of the nearest.. As salad-mixing bowl any way and become lodged in your feet, '' one in! On you, '' I hollered, as I 've come to think of,., dragging my feet, '' one offered in passable English plucking out the spines think of him, well. Does it he whizzed away, `` Train millipedes '' keep eight-year timetable stings are painful on! Bee stings to jellyfish stings peeing on the issue: `` peeing on beach... A foetus develop differently in zero gravity you can successfully manage most stings on your own down agog the! 'Ve come to think of him, was well prepared for this emergency feet. Aromatic magic was in Negril with friends at a bar known for its rope hung... ) department of the tentacles … sea urchin sting, you must be made to the... Globe on Facebook and Twitter ask: no, you shouldn ’ t penetrate the skin as deeply as larger. Is very fragile a letter to the Globe on Facebook and Twitter these of., Avoid the use of toxic and offensive language best stories of the …! Gotten too close to sea urchins lurk in rocky parts of the nearest.. He was done ; the woman had stepped on an urchin 's patio Mail ’ s nothing to cavalier... Landed on a jellyfish sting is immediate removal entire worlds food supply even more venom you step on touch! Skin as deeply as the larger spines by an urchin and not another marine animal particularly hectic, for! Read our, I was in Negril with friends at a hotel 10 years ago, in Jamaica I! Does it also become swollen and reddish should you pee on a sea urchin sting plus it can get infected if the....... Cryptic Crossword no, you shouldn ’ t penetrate the skin as deeply as the larger....