Once you are out of the water, wash the sting area and get a heat pack on it immediately. This will help when you need to get back to the dock and/or to professional treatment for the sting.
Symptoms following lionfish stings can include swelling, tenderness, redness, sweating, and muscle weakness.
If you are poked by a lionfish, here are some first-aid steps:
- Wearing gloves and using tweezers, carefully remove spines from the wound, trying not to squeeze the venom glands.
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Soak the affected limb in water hot enough to tolerate but not to burn, or take a hot shower for 10–20 minutes. An adult should test the water to make sure it is not scalding hot for children.
- Use over-the-counter medication to treat pain.
- Call your doctor or pharmacist to make sure your tetanus immunization is up to date.
An x-ray might be needed to ensure that there are no broken spines left in the sting site.
Visit an urgent care center or emergency room if you experience any of the following:
- severe muscle aches or cramps.
- severe or persistent pain at sting site.
- feeling faint.
- evidence of infection such as fever, expanding redness, swelling, or pus.
- paralysis.
- spines still visible in the wound after attempts to remove them.
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