Most injuries will be on a bare hand or foot. Prevention would involve:
(1) knowing which species of sea urchins in the region are hazardous
(2) wearing gloves and foot protection
(3) not touching or handling sea urchins
Management of person exposed to a toxic sea urchin:
(1) Get the patient out of the water and into a boat or ashore as soon as possible.
(2) Soak the site in warm water (43.3 to 45°C (110 to 113°F). Be careful not to scald the person.
(3) Analgesics and a local anesthetic may be necessary to control pain.
(4) If there are protruding spines, then these must be removed without breaking them.
(5) If there are attached pinchers (pedicellariae), then these must be carefully removed by applying shaving cream and then shaving the area.
(6) Serious envenomations may require ventilatory support and/or transport to a hospital.
Monitoring:
(1) Secondary infections may develop.
(2) The presence of black or purple dye at the site more than 72 hours after the incident may indicate the presence of an imbedded spine fragment.
