subject: Act Smart To Avoid Weever Fish Stings This Summer [print this page] As temperatures increase and the summer gets into full swing the most unsuspecting of predators could be lying on a beach near you. The weaver fish grows to around six inches and lurks in the shallow depths of shorelines. They combine excellent camouflage with a strong turn of speed to sneak up on unsuspecting prey. Bathers are at danger because of a venomous dorsal fin that the weaver fish uses to protect itself against predators.
If it wasn't for its sharp dorsal fin and gills the weaver fish would be no more dangerous than your average sardine. This defence mechanism however is of particular danger to humans owing to the fish's inclination to lie just under the sand in shallow waters. By burying itself in the sand the weaver fish can conceal itself from its prey and also protect itself against attacks via it's sharp fins. Shallow stretches of shoreline are a haven for holidaymakers in the summer months. Swimmers and playing children will often step on to the fish and the sharp fins bury themselves into the foot.
Once inserted into the foot venom is released that causes excruciating pain and swelling. In certain cases the fins can break off and become stuck in the foot. Although they go up into the foot easily they are notoriously hard to remove, and should only be done so by trained medical professionals.
The trick really is to avoid getting stung by the fish. Unfortunately they thrive in hot conditions, and are not wary of human movement. Records show that August is the busiest month for weaver fish stings in Britain. However this is as much to do with the increase of bathers visiting beaches as it is to do with an increase in numbers of the fish. To avoid getting stung swimmers and paddlers alike can wear a beach shoe with sizeable underfoot protection. The perfect pair in this case is the jellied varieties that are sold at all beach resorts. Stepping on the fish whilst wearing a shoe means that the sharp dorsal fins cannot penetrate into the foot.
Going to the beach in shoes is never fun so it is therefore inevitable that there will always be a lot of cases of stings. If you suspect a sting then it important to think quickly and apply first aid treatment to help ease the pain. Thankfully the actual venom itself is broken down when temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius. As a first aider or just a helper the best bet is to rest the casualty and boil the kettle up. Not for a cup of tea in this case, but to mix with cold water to reach roughly the 40 degrees mark. The foot can then be bathed in this water which eases the pain and can reduce the swelling. The next stage is to have an inspection of the foot. If there are still fins stuck inside you should transfer the casualty to hospital where they can be safely removed.
It must be remembered however that the weaver fish is no shark. Records show that there has only ever been one reported death in Britain. It dates back to 1927 when an angler suffered multiple stings whilst fishing off Dungeness. As this is the only reported death there is a suspicion that he may of died of other medical causes, which happened to be exacerbated by the stings. All this points towards deaths being incredibly rare, but stings are not so stay safe this summer.
