DANGEROUS , VENOMOUS and POISONOUS MARINE LIFE ~ Neville Coleman
The book Dangerous Sea Creatures is SOLD OUT and has been replaced by a three part eBook series. Dangerous, Venomous and Poisonous Marine Life.
The original concept began many years ago as one of the major projects undertaken on the "Australian Coastal Marine Expedition" (1969 to 1973) that aimed to record, observe, photograph, and eventually preserve the marine fauna of Australia. In regard to the dangerous, venomous and poisonous animals (of which very little was then known) the idea was to experience these animals underwater and conduct experiments to determine the standard of their harmful, or potentially harmful, effects on a human, namely, me!
I set about to face each and every so-called danger, so that eventually, by discovering the truth about the animals, my own highly-developed fears would be conquered. I figured that if experimented on my self and survived, I would no longer be scared of that creature and could write it off the very long list of nightmares I had to deal with every night.
Brilliant in theory, but in practice the reality of things did not find me very brave and sometimes the dreams of facing six white pointers on my own with only the wire framer of my close-up lens between us, did not inspire my diving in two metres visibility.
Yet, it was the determination to beat my media-programmed fears of the underwater creatures that drove me on and continued to drive me on for another 40 years.
The World of Water
Of the 200,000 life forms inhabiting the oceans of the world, from tiny microscopic dinoflagellates to the mighty blue whales, there are only a small percentage of creatures that have and adverse affect on humans.
Humans are not the normal, natural prey of marine creatures, yet in the past we have considered ourselves (due to extraordinarily irresponsible media exposure) to be on the menu of every creature in nature. In short, humans have always been at war with nature. Our ignorance and fear have bestowed totally ridiculous powers to many of these creatures, when in truth most have no understanding whatsoever of our existence (most cannot even see us!)
This material is written and produced in the sincere knowledge that most of our fears are only in our heads and our greatest journey, is between our ears. Those animals which inhabit the world of water (once an unknown and fearsome place) are only beings, in many ways similar to ourselves.
By knowing, recognising and understanding them a little more in their world, we can go amongst them with respect, rather than fear, wondering at how such fascinating creatures with their amazing abilities to defend themselves against a host of predators, survive?. That their astounding protective devices sometimes work on inexperienced human visitors is unfortunate. However, any person involved with the aquatic environment must be realistic and be aware that accidents and incidents can happen. Hopefully with the visual aids, information, appraisals and advice contained here, the prospect of harmful encounters will be minimised.
After 40 years and over 12,000 logged dives experiencing and experimenting with dangerous, venomous and poisonous animals across the oceans of the world from the Seychelles to the British West Indies: from Japan down to New Zealand I remain virtually unscathed. This was not achieved out of any attempt at bravado, but with a thorough understanding and a great deal of respect for the aquatic environment and its inhabitants, despite the overwhelming sense of my own fragility.
Explanations:
Natural history information in this publication relates to observations and experiences of my own, and those of other reliable underwater naturalists.
Animals may visit a number of different habitats and/or be active on days or nights, depending on circumstances, depth, locality, time of the month, season, or individual behaviour. There are many variables, some sea creatures respond to day and night change over; others appear transient, or opportunistic. In truth, they are where you find them and unfortunately for us, many venemous ones are extremely well camouflaged and one needs some help to recognise them in the field.
That is where my images and information can assist with examples, showing just how they can hide themselves away in plain view.
" PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!"
Caution - Disclaimer: The information here is produced in good faith based on the author’s experiences and other authentic published references. It is offered as a guide only. The author assumes no responsibility for any marine accidents from beachcombing, reefwalking, fishing , sustenance collecting, snorkelling, scuba diving or any or injuries incurred or implied from using this guide, or emulating any circumstance described, pictured, or imagined.
"I'm indebted to Graham J Morrow, for the First Aid textural content.
YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE AT SEA
A vital prerequisite to saving someone's life or your own (self-help) are some basic skills, for example -
= How to make the scene safe
= How to support life until more qualified help arrives
= How to call for help
= How to stop a severe bleed
= Know what NOT to do
The Open Learning Institute of TAFE, Queensland, Australia have relevant nationally accredited distance education courses for you to qualify in First Aid and Emergency Care procedures that will cover your obligation (duty of care) and lead to recognition at an appropriate level within your industry
Introduction:
First Aid personnel should be aware of conditions that may threaten a person's life. Awareness can help prevent a foreseeable hazard from becoming a risk that may lead to acute illness/injury.
Life can be threatened by environmental conditions, for example, a rough sea as well as by the condition of the casualty who may be ill (shellfish poisoning) or injured (shark bite).
Courtesy DAN
First Aid personnel should:
-Act calmly and quickly to assess the situation
-Ensure their own personal safety THEN the safety of other people in an emergency
-Know how to call for Emergency Service Assistance
-Be able to recognise and provide initial management of acute illness/injury.
In cases of a witnessed collapse the call for Emergency Service Assistance should be initiated immediately. Speed is imperative to allow the Emergency Service to provide advanced life support effectively. A collapsed casualty should be managed only after the safety of First Aid personnel and other people has been assured.
Where there is more than one casualty,
CARE OF UNCONSCIOUS CASUALTIES HAS PRIORITY.
First Aid personnel should not be distracted by casualties who are calling out - they are obviously conscious.
In all injuries/illnesses REASSURANCE plays a vital role.
Reassurance:
Look after the mental and physical aspects of the casualty. It reduces the effect of shock and gains the casualty's confidence and so the casualty will be more cooperative with first aid management.
Always try to arrange your management so as the casualty cannot see their injuries.
Normal body warmth should be maintained.
In most situations, the casualty should be given nothing to eat or drink.
The casualty should be protected from the environment and their skin should be protected from hard objects.
The prevention of further illness/injury may be achieved by:
-Gentle handling of the casualty
-Assuring the casualty that persons who are ill/injured are being cared for
-Informing the casualty that the Emergency Service has been or will be called asap.
A casualty should only be moved for :
-An environmental risk
-Positioning of the unconscious
-Clearing and opening an airway
-Control of bleeding
-Transport to Emergency Service only when advised by Emergency Service personnel.
If other persons are available to assist in the movement of a casualty, request their help.
Emergency Service personnel have specialised equipment that can support a casualty during movement. They may also be able to provide pain relief to a casualty before and during movement.
Allow the Emergency Service personnel to come to the casualty; do not (unless instructed by the Emergency Service) take the casualty to the Emergency Service.
Always follow the EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN in the management of all illnesses/injuries.
ALWAYS BE MINDFUL:
When we lose consciousness our HEARING is the last sense to be lost and first to function.
Emergency Action Plan:
SCABCB: SAFETY - CONSCIOUSNESS - AIRWAY -BREATHING - CIRCULATION -BLEEDING
This type of Emergency Action Plan should be used for managing any type of illness/injury.
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN ASSESS FOR MONITORING AND SELECTION
1. SAFETY: If the environment is unsafe remove the hazard or risk, if safe to do so.
If the hazard or risk cannot be removed, carefully move the casualty to safety, if safe to do so.
Once the casualty is in a safe environment assess for consciousness.
2. CONSCIOUSNESS: If they are conscious reassure them, minimise movement and manage illness/injury.
If the casualty is unconscious place them on their side.
Arrange for Emergency Service Assistance.
3. AIRWAY: Clear and open the casualty's airway.
4. BREATHING: If breathing - place the casualty in a stable side position.
If not breathing - commence EAR - Expired Air Resuscitation and check for pulse.
5. CIRCULATION: If there is a pulse continue EAR - Expired Air Resuscitation
If there is no pulse commence CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
6. BLEEDING: Control bleeding.
Control of Bleeding:
- Most EXTERNAL BLEEDING with no protruding object, can be
stopped by applying DIRECT PRESSURE and ELEVATION of the wound. - Apply a pad directly against the wound with firm pressure and secure with a dressing ensuring the pad remains over the wound.
- Elevation should be used with direct pressure when it will cause no pain or aggravate the injury.
- All fractures must be securely supported before elevating.
- Send for an ambulance.
- Monitor casualty's vital signs and keep the person still.
- Provide supplementary oxygen if available.