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Coral Tank Injury - First Aid Question

SoulFish

SoulFish

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I was scrapping this coral off a square mount with a screw driver when the coral pooped off and the screw driver went into my knuckle. I flushed it with water and a solution of hydrogen peroxide. Then put antibacterial cream on it and wrapped it up. I've heard all kinds of story of people almost dying from coral toxins. What do I need to look for should I worry? Am I over reacting? The coral below in the red ring is the one I was scrapping off, what is this coral I picked it up at the frag swap. It is super toxic?

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this is a SPS coral? I can't tell from the pic. Was the screwdriver rusty? if it was you may need to you a T. shot for that. The toxic corals are the palys in the left of the picture. I don't think the hard coral will be bad for you. Watch the wound carefully, if it swells up and turns really red then seek help. Hope this helps.
 
when was your last tetanus shot? If it's been a while you might want to get a new one.

As to the coral issues, let your body tell you if something is wrong, if the area gets red and the red grows, get your butt to a doc pronto, if there's no swelling, no real redness (other than where you stabbed yourself) you might be ok.

Sps typically aren't toxic, the guys next to that coral in the picture however... I think the biggest issue would be bacterial in nature.
 
I cut myself in the tank all the time. As advised above watch for redness in the area sourounding the cut, puss would be another warning sign, feeling dizzy or long term headaches are warning signs as well....


FTR I have never gotten infected from LPS or SPS, but I did have an issue when I cut some zoas and my finger....
 
Mr. Ugly said:
sfsuphysics said:
the biggest issue would be bacterial in nature.
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+1
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+2 and bacteria associates itself with all corals. Our tanks are a vibrio soup so it doesn't matter if it's a sps, zoanthid, fake coral, etc. It can still infect you. It sounds like you did the right thing though and treated quickly. If it gets infected I'd then seek help. FWIW my hands have had nearly every area cut at one time in a tank and only like 5 times have I got something bad and only once did it require medical attention.
 
so far so good. nothing too spectacular happened. So guess I'll just watch out for the bacterial infection.

The last time I had to go to the doct for this kind of thing I got jabbed by the dorsal spine of a dogfish which has a mild venom. And that got infected so I needed penicillin for the bacterial infection. That venom wore off fairly quick.
 
I've had fish poisoning before, I stabbed my thumb about 40 times with hooks baiting up for a halibut trip, and we were on the water so no option of going to the doctor. My entire hand puffed up and turned red. I soaked it in warm hypersaline water I made w/ rock salt. It helped disinfect it and the swelling went away. If you have peroxide, or iodine handy next time you cut yourself both of those are good options.

Here is some good info about treating finger infections:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/finger_infection/article_em.htm

There are horror stories, but in the majority of cases you will be dealing with an infection and not a reaction to an animals nematocysts. The only animal in our tanks that we REALLY need to watch out for are zoanthids/palythoas. Those carry a potent neurotoxin that can wipe you out if introduced into your mucous membranes or bloodstream. Also watch out for your pets, as I recall a story on reefcentral about a dog that drank from a zooanthid frag bowl and died.

Here's a good source for info, and the dog story is included as a sublink:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158730

Anenomes have also been reported to have a sting that is strong enough to be felt, but I haven't heard of any cases of actual injury. However, during one of Dr. Ron Shimek's talks he mentioned a case where a person who kept anenomes had developed a reaction to the frequent exposure to their nematocysts in the tank water. He claimed it got so bad that this person, who initially had not had any problems, began having swelling and redness from simply reaching in their tank. Anecdotal, and I can't find sources, but I thought it might be interesting.

I do also have personal experience with a case of jellyfish allergy. I crabbed with a guy who's face would puff up until his eyes swelled shut every time we went through a patch of jellyfish. The line gets coated with their slime, and it sprays everywhere when the line goes through the block. For most people, this is merely annoying because it stings your eyes, and to a lesser degree your skin. This guy would puff up fast, right after contact. However, I think someone would know quite quickly if they were allergic to their reef tank, and I would also think that this condition could be treated with normal allery medication such as benadryl.

Hope that helps,

-Gusty
 
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