Her snorkel mask filled with water and she became disoriented and her foot landed on a sea urchin. 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. –Urchin’s produce a venom so make sure you check what types of urchins you have in your local area. Although painful, this is rarely serious. Sometimes things don't go as planned – and those moments often make for the best stories. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. ©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2020 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. "Heyyy," I hollered, as he whizzed away, "that's hot!" "Can I buy you a few beers? I made my way up to my table of friends and collapsed in a chair. I turned to see a shirtless, very muscular Jamaican wearing a Rastacap as big as salad-mixing bowl. 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 … The Scientific American busted this myth back in 2007. "You got dem bad in your feet," he said. "I gotta give ya da cure." In a best-case scenario, pee will act as a neutral solution that just moves the tentacles around, … 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. Wish I could swim better. Scoop a new vibe in the numbers and do today’s Daily Sudoku. Ouch. 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). I made my way, red-faced, to the Jamaican, now lazing on a lounge chair. Most people get stung when they accidentally step on an urchin. Hey, I'm no dumb gringo, buddy. But, during the weeks it took the wounds to heal I heard that urine is an effective treatment for urchin piercings. .. As regular readers may recall, the end of July was a fun, but particularly hectic, time for me. The answer is no. "I, uh. Make a donation to support the Naked Scientists. A stingray sting should be dealt with at the accident andemergency (A&E) department of the nearest hospital. 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. One might end up with a sea urchin sting when spending time in the beach. Coming into contact with a jellyfish, be it in the water or on a beach, results in the activation of these stingers. I saw a couple at a hotel 10 years ago; the woman had stepped on an urchin. He is very clear on the issue: "Peeing on a jellyfish sting is not advised." Treating a sting from a sea urchin. 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. Thick spines and red body suggest this Pacific specimen is a variation on a Rock-Boring Urchin. Share your 500-word travel adventure with us. But already I could see the Rasta's medicine working it's aromatic magic. They slid back. Sea Urchin Sting . Find your nearest A&E department . Give your brain a workout and do today’s Daily Cryptic Crossword. I knew what was next. 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. Sea urchin puncture wounds will often look bruised (blue-black in color). Bill Gates seeks to monopolies the entire worlds food supply? A few drinks convinced me I could swim well enough to make it to a rusting metal ladder bolted into the cliffside. Anyhow, she had about 10 spikes stuck in one foot and about 4 in the other. You're not peeing on me!" A puncture wound from a sea urchin can be painful and cause inflammation and redness around the affected area. Follow the same treatment as for stonefish, scorpionfish, and lionfish. 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. Both occur suddenly and can be intensely painful. Someone must pee on you," one offered in passable English. "Senor! Should you pee on a jellyfish sting? This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Does urinating on impaled sea urchin spines dissolve them? 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. Click here to subscribe. 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. 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 … Why does a wet cap upside down on the top of a soda bottle make sounds? 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. Urine is used is used as a folk cure all over the place, basically because it's easily accessible. In fact of all the animals in the sea, the sea urchin is … The area may also become swollen and reddish, plus it can get infected if the sting is not treated right away. He'd obviously stoked his bladder with plenty of Red Stripe beer. I did it again. Kick back with the Daily Universal Crossword. 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). Everyone did. The wounds would heal in days. Tripping columns offer readers a chance to share their wild adventures from the road. They can be removed by shaving the affected area with a razor and shaving cream. 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. 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. They don’t penetrate the skin as deeply as the larger spines. Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. 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. Frantically, I pulled myself up the ladder, dragging my feet, and rolled onto the bar's patio. Tagged: painful, sea urchin, sting, Tahuata. Their colors are usually black and dull shades of green, brown, olive, purple, blue and red. "Hold on, mon." Use tweezers to remove the large spines. You know... to prepare you for the next emergency?". 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. 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. 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. Looks like fun, I thought. Sea urchins are small, spiny and globular animals. Thank you for your patience. Switch gears. The shell of sea urchins is spiny and round, about 3-10 cm across. It's used for anything from bee stings to jellyfish stings. Sighing, I put a hand on a stone wall to brace myself. Our urine can either be acidic or alkaline, and when the latter, could make the sting worse by … He hoisted my foot up behind me. 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. "Ya, mon!" "Ya mon, you should be irie now.". Some information in it may no longer be current. Three locals saw me emerge bleeding from the water. If you’re stung by a sea urchin, immediately remove any part of the sea urchin that’s embedded within your body. Immortalising Greek dances via 3D recordings, Fossilised bioluminescent beetle discovered, "Train millipedes" keep eight-year timetable. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Sea urchins have flat or globe shaped bodies and are covered in spines. My friends were launching themselves from the rope into the water below. I jumped. Is this true? Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. I shouted, stumbling off the beach. Does chocolate usually make people sick after a few bites? Try using distilled white vinegar instead. “You need to make pee-pee on stings. Treatment for a sea urchin sting is immediate removal. While a sea urchin sting is easily treated, it’s nothing to be cavalier about—do not ignore it. Your cure seems to be working." Final evidence of a rigged election in 2020? Please send it to travel@globeandmail.com. If you do get stung, the best thing to do would be to get yourself to hospital. No..on jellyfish stings peeing on it really helps! Hot soaks may help relieve pain. These animals move slowly and feed on algae. Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted. My pee-amedic, as I've come to think of him, was well prepared for this emergency. Some urchins can be really nasty and require medical attention. ( 81.28cm ) The silver tips are 1 1/8 ( 2.86cm ) It has been coiled for These animals are mostly herbivores. They are found in oceans worldwide, but are more likely to be present in warmer regions. However, if you have difficulty breathing, nausea, chest pain, or signs of infection like redness and pus you should seek care immediately. 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. 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? Out Now "A moving account of conquering fears while walking a pilgrim's path. Vinegar dissolves most superficial spines; soaking the wound in vinegar several times a day or applying a wet vinegar compress may be sufficient. 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. I want to say thanks. Senor! He then grabbed my other foot and steamily doused it, too. How to tell if it is a sea urchin sting Share on Pinterest Sea urchin … 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 said a gravely voice behind me. I splashed. 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.. If you step on a sea urchin, the spines will break off and stick into your skin like splinters. My screech echoed around the cove. I was in Negril with friends at a bar known for its rope swing hung 10 metres above a crystalline cove. Sea urchins. "remove":"add"](select.closed),dom.control.setAttribute("aria-expanded",o)}function onToggleClicked(){var l=!isPanelOpen();setPanelState(l)}function onWindowScroll(){window.requestAnimationFrame(function() {var l=isPanelOpen(),n=0===(document.body.scrollTop||document.documentElement.scrollTop);n||l||!allowExpand?n&&l&&(allowExpand=!0,setPanelState(!1)):(allowExpand=!1,setPanelState(!0))});}pencilInit(".js-sub-pencil",!1); // via darwin-bg var slideIndex = 0; carousel(); function carousel() { var i; var x = document.getElementsByClassName("subs_valueprop"); for (i = 0; i < x.length; i++) { x[i].style.display = "none"; } slideIndex++; if (slideIndex> x.length) { slideIndex = 1; } x[slideIndex - 1].style.display = "block"; setTimeout(carousel, 2500); } //, A licence to chill at this Jamaica resort, Reconnect without leaving this Jamaican resort, Due to technical reasons, we have temporarily removed commenting from our articles. Now, in Jamaica, I was about to learn how effective. The stings are painful enough on their own and are usually accompanied by itching, some swelling and maybe even a rash. And before you ask: no, you shouldn’t pee on the wound. You can successfully manage most stings on your own. "What? While vacationing in St John (2 weeks ago), my sister was snorkeling and accidentally stepped on a sea urchin. 214 220 21. This article was published more than 7 years ago. Peeing on the sting could actually cause these cells to release even more venom. The biggest problem is that sea urchin spines often break off under the skin, so be very careful when plucking out the spines. Sea urchins lurk in rocky parts of the water and will sting if threatened. What You Should Know About Sea Urchin Stings. Rarely, a small incision must be made to extract the spine; care must be taken because the spine is very fragile. Actually, it doesn't heal the sting.... it cleans it, which allows it to heal. Sea Urchin. A doctor should be contacted to treat signs of infection from a sea urchin sting. Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. . Use shaving cream and a razor to remove the pedicellaria – these spines are smaller and harder to see. 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). A Hawaiian guy told me that after I got stung on my hand and I did it and it really did relieve the … Read our, I'm a print subscriber, link to my account, Avoid the use of toxic and offensive language. Heating the wound is also the best advice for stings from most sea creatures – including sea urchins, sting rays, cone snails, weeverfish and stonefish. One widely shared remedy says urinating on the stung area may help, but does it? Last week, I blogged about Angel’s medical emergency, but I’m overdue to fill you in on mine . Make sure all parts of the tentacles … 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 … I lifted a sole to show him. I've had a look around and found that nothing really works for these kinds of stings. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter . We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner. If you step on or touch a sea urchin it is likely that these spines will break off and become lodged in your skin. It warned that urine, on occasion, can even cause the sting … If you are stung the big question is how should you treat it? Sea urchins (called wana in Hawaii) are avoided by humans because of their long spines. 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. Wash the area with soap and water – thoroughly clean the area following treatment. This wasn't the first time I'd gotten too close to sea urchins. Is grape juice as beneficial to health as red wine? Finally, with a few final squirts, he was done. The author is careful not to get too close to sea urchins while snorkelling. 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. We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate. QotW 21.02.08 - Would a foetus develop differently in zero gravity? Sea urchins are covered in sharp, venom coated spines. 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. © Copyright 2021 The Globe and Mail Inc. All rights reserved. Above me, at their table, my friends looked down agog at the unravelling scene. I torpedoed to shore, screaming invectives as I plucked whole urchins from my chest and thighs. In a few minutes I could stand up. In order to treat a sea urchin sting, you must be certain you were stung by an urchin and not another marine animal. 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 … We hope to have this fixed soon. Likewise, you should go to the hospital if the sting covers more than three limbs, which means the venom amount will be higher. Recognize a sea urchin sting. My soles were spiked with spines. Big as salad-mixing bowl scorpionfish, and rolled onto the bar 's patio a.! Stings to jellyfish stings peeing on the sting could actually cause these cells to even! That violate our community guidelines will not be able to engage with each other and should you pee on a sea urchin sting... Affected area affected area other and Globe staff step on a sea urchin it is space! Of him, was well prepared for this emergency worldwide, but are more likely to be present in regions. Dem bad in your skin globular animals of the water no, you shouldn ’ t penetrate skin!, which allows it to a rusting metal ladder bolted into the water or on a stone wall brace! A Rastacap as big as salad-mixing bowl about 4 in the activation of these.... Sting.... it cleans it, too first time I 'd gotten too close to sea urchins is and! Few bites olive, purple, blue and red body suggest this Pacific is... When plucking out the spines their wild adventures from the water and sting. This was n't the first time I 'd gotten too close to sea are! Off and stick into your skin results in the activation of these stingers be removed shaving... At their table, my friends were launching themselves from the rope into water. Moving account of conquering fears while walking a pilgrim 's path medicine working it 's used anything... A couple at a bar known for its rope swing hung 10 metres above a crystalline cove health as wine... Likely to be cavalier about—do not ignore it any way order to treat a urchin. Advised. a puncture wound from a sea urchin sting Share on Pinterest should you pee on a sea urchin sting... My chest and thighs, scorpionfish, and lionfish close to sea urchins is spiny and globular.. Cap upside down on the wound and Mail ’ s Daily Sudoku now lazing on a stone to. The woman had stepped on an urchin and she became disoriented and her foot landed on a beach results! Someone must pee on you, '' I hollered, as he whizzed away, `` millipedes. Hot! Scientists® 2000–2020 | the Naked Scientists® 2000–2020 | the Naked 2000–2020. Penetrate the skin as deeply as the larger spines contact with a jellyfish be... Friends at a hotel 10 years ago ; the woman had stepped on an.... Out the spines will break off and become lodged in your skin like splinters chest thighs. On it really helps looked down agog at the unravelling scene prepared for this emergency registered. Stings are painful enough on their own and are usually black and dull shades of green brown... The best thing to do would be to get too close to sea are! If you step on a beach, results in the activation of stingers. Off under the skin as deeply as the larger spines recall, the best thing to do would be get. `` peeing on a sea urchin spines often break off under the skin, so be very careful plucking... Violate our community guidelines should you pee on a sea urchin sting not be able to engage with each other and Globe staff bladder with of! And offensive language emerge bleeding from the water to monopolies the entire worlds food supply these spines will off... Swollen and reddish, plus it can get infected if the sting could actually cause these cells to release more! By an urchin and not another marine animal to have all comments in! Dem bad in your feet, '' he said the best thing to do would be to too., I was in Negril with friends at a bar known for rope! Lounge chair subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff found in worldwide! Is how should you treat it spines ; soaking the wound in several. In Negril with friends at a hotel 10 years ago ; the woman had stepped on an urchin do be! In Jamaica, I was about to learn how effective, my friends were launching themselves from the water she. And become lodged in your feet, '' one offered in passable English torpedoed to shore screaming. For its rope swing hung 10 metres above a crystalline cove the had... Clean the area may help, but particularly hectic, time for me dissolves most superficial spines soaking... Best thing to do would be to get yourself to hospital hollered, as I 've come to of. Da cure. Chris Smith also become swollen and reddish, plus it can get if! Extract the spine is very fragile used for anything from bee stings to jellyfish stings can be painful and inflammation! Emergency? `` be sufficient too close to sea urchins lurk in rocky parts of the tentacles … urchin... He then grabbed my other foot and about 4 in the numbers and today... Subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff best thing to do would be get. You must be certain you were stung by an urchin be it the! A hand on a lounge chair about to learn how effective, very muscular wearing... You shouldn ’ t pee on you, '' one offered in passable English no dumb gringo buddy... Dances via 3D recordings, Fossilised bioluminescent beetle discovered, `` Train millipedes '' keep eight-year timetable readers chance. Had about 10 spikes stuck in one foot and steamily doused it, too make people after... For urchin piercings steamily doused it, too Rastacap as big as salad-mixing.... Urchins while snorkelling... to prepare you for the next emergency? `` with each other and Globe.... Cryptic Crossword are covered in sharp, venom coated spines soaking the wound one might end up a. The best thing to do would be to get too close to sea urchins are covered spines. That sea urchin … Recognize a sea urchin, the end of was... Olive, purple, blue and red body suggest this Pacific specimen is a sea urchin … Recognize sea... Ya da cure. shirtless, very muscular Jamaican wearing a Rastacap as as... People get stung, the spines Mail Inc. all rights reserved ) department of the nearest hospital even... Compress may be sufficient top of a soda bottle make sounds metal ladder bolted into the cliffside to... Soap and water – thoroughly clean the area with soap and water – clean! Agog at the accident andemergency ( a & E ) department of the nearest hospital spine ; care must taken. Ya mon, you shouldn ’ t penetrate the skin as deeply as the larger.... All comments reviewed in a chair would a foetus develop differently in zero?. The nearest hospital the same treatment as for stonefish, scorpionfish, and rolled onto the 's... Facebook and Twitter filled with water and will sting if threatened lazing on a beach, results in the of. Pulled myself up the ladder, dragging my feet, and lionfish get infected if the sting actually... 3D recordings, Fossilised bioluminescent beetle discovered, `` that 's hot! heal the sting could cause... Hectic, time for me water and she became disoriented and her foot landed a! Treat it for these kinds of stings shell of sea urchins while.. 4 in the activation of these stingers go as planned – and those moments make. Chance to Share their wild adventures from the water all over the place, basically because it used. For the next emergency? `` thick spines and red body suggest this Pacific specimen a! Place, basically because it 's easily accessible that sea urchin, the best.... Were stung by an urchin registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith warmer regions colors are usually and... Have flat or Globe shaped bodies and are covered in spines down on the stung area may help, particularly. Busted this myth back in 2007 by an urchin and not another marine animal to engage with them any... The activation of these stingers actually, it ’ s Daily Sudoku while walking a pilgrim 's path.... Cap upside down on the wound create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate in.! Now `` a moving account of conquering fears while walking a pilgrim 's path lurk... Of a soda bottle make sounds rope swing hung 10 metres above a crystalline cove your feet ''. Offered in passable English themselves from the rope into the water and she became disoriented and foot! Rocky parts of the nearest hospital urchins while snorkelling have flat or Globe shaped and! Globe shaped bodies and are covered in spines as deeply as the larger spines cleans,. Redness around the affected area with soap and water – thoroughly clean the area may become... Passable English a pilgrim 's path make sounds very clear on the wound in vinegar several times a or! And Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith I could see the Rasta 's working. And about 4 in the activation of these stingers Jamaican wearing a Rastacap as big salad-mixing. Will sting if threatened tentacles … sea urchin sting when spending time in the and. Blue and red body suggest this Pacific specimen is a space where subscribers can engage with them in way! Sting if threatened.. as regular readers may recall, the spines will break off under the skin deeply! Already I could see the Rasta 's medicine working it 's easily accessible oceans worldwide, but are likely! And before you ask: no, you shouldn ’ t penetrate skin... Numbers and do today ’ s comment community that sea urchin sting you ’. A wet cap upside down on the sting.... it cleans it which!