Wild Shores Safety: Will You Survive A Sea Shore Trip?

1.

The Yellow-lipped sea krait is commonly seen on our Southern shores. It has a highly toxic venom that can be fatal.

What is the BEST way to avoid being bitten by this snake?

Wear thick soled shoes.

Splash around so the snake will go away.

Push it away with a stick.

Leave it alone

Avoid reef areas.

The snake is typically found in coral reefs and rocky shores and is active both at night and during the day. The snake has small fangs and is docile and will not bite unless provoked. It is best to leave it alone and just watch it go about its business. A curious snake, it might even come near you but it will not harm you if you stay still.

Do not touch it or try to catch or hurt it, whereupon it will try to defend itself and may bite.

Explanation

The snake is typically found in coral reefs and rocky shores and is active both at night and during the day. The snake has small fangs and is docile and will not bite unless provoked. It is best to leave it alone and just watch it go about its business. A curious snake, it might even come near you but it will not harm you if you stay still.

Do not touch it or try to catch or hurt it, whereupon it will try to defend itself and may bite.

2. Which of these animals are safe to handle?
Various sponges

(A) Sponges (B) Zoanthids

(C) Fireworm (D) Cone snail (Photo by Richard Ling)

All of the above

Sponge and zoanthid

Zoanthids only

Snail only

None of the above

Sponges may have tiny glass-like spikes that can get embedded in your fingers and can cause problems if you then rub your eyes.

Many zoanthids contain some of the most toxic marine poisons.

Fireworms and some other bristleworms have toxic bristles that can cause fiery painful wounds as their pierce through skin and break off in the flesh.

Cone snails can inject a fatal venom. If you are not familiar with snails, you should not touch any of them.

Explanation

Sponges may have tiny glass-like spikes that can get embedded in your fingers and can cause problems if you then rub your eyes.

Many zoanthids contain some of the most toxic marine poisons.

Fireworms and some other bristleworms have toxic bristles that can cause fiery painful wounds as their pierce through skin and break off in the flesh.

Cone snails can inject a fatal venom. If you are not familiar with snails, you should not touch any of them.

3.

Stingrays are common on our shores. Most stingrays have one to four spines, often near the base of the tail (where the tail joins the body). These spines are serrated and can cut deeply and introduce venom into the wound that can cause excruciating pain.

What is the BEST way to avoid being stung by a ray?

Wear covered shoes.

Splash around so the fish will go away.

Shuffle your feet as you walk.

Avoid stepping into murky water.

Poke it away with a stick.

Stingrays are not aggressive and prefer to flee from danger. Most stingray injuries are the result of a careless human stepping on or handling the fish. Beware! Stingray spines can even penetrate through booties! Wearing covered shoes alone will not protect you.

The best way to avoid being stung is NOT to step into murky water and to watch your step and walk slowly. Shuffling your feet is a poor alternative, if you really do HAVE to walk in murky water. Do not handle stingrays, even if they are beached on dry land.

Explanation

Stingrays are not aggressive and prefer to flee from danger. Most stingray injuries are the result of a careless human stepping on or handling the fish. Beware! Stingray spines can even penetrate through booties! Wearing covered shoes alone will not protect you.

The best way to avoid being stung is NOT to step into murky water and to watch your step and walk slowly. Shuffling your feet is a poor alternative, if you really do HAVE to walk in murky water. Do not handle stingrays, even if they are beached on dry land.

4. Which of these animals are safe to handle?

(A) Black long-spined sea urchin (B) Octopus

(C) Red swimming crab (D) Diamond wrasse

All of the above

Crab and octopus

Only the octopus

Only the fish

None of the above

Sea urchins can prick bare hands, the long-spined ones can even pierce through clothing. The spines may break off in the flesh.

Octopuses have a shark beak and can bite. Many can produce a toxin.

Most large crabs can pinch painfully, some even nipping off skin and causing bleeding wounds.

Fishes, even small ones, can give a nasty bite that can draw blood.

Explanation

Sea urchins can prick bare hands, the long-spined ones can even pierce through clothing. The spines may break off in the flesh.

Octopuses have a shark beak and can bite. Many can produce a toxin.

Most large crabs can pinch painfully, some even nipping off skin and causing bleeding wounds.

Fishes, even small ones, can give a nasty bite that can draw blood.

5.

These feather-like hydroids inflict painful burning stings that take a long time to heal and leave hideous scars.

What is the BEST way to avoid being stung by these hydroids?

Wear covered shoes and long pants.

Splash around so the hydroids will go away.

Look out for them in the water and avoid them.

Poke and break them up with a stick.

Almost transparent, they are very hard to spot. These colonial animals are immobile.

Even a slight brush against these hydroids with bare skin will cause an immediate fiery reaction, raising painful welts that itch for a long time.

The best way to avoid being stung is to cover all skin that comes into contact with water. And to avoid disturbing or breaking off parts of the colony which can continue to sting as they drift in the water.

Explanation

Almost transparent, they are very hard to spot. These colonial animals are immobile.

Even a slight brush against these hydroids with bare skin will cause an immediate fiery reaction, raising painful welts that itch for a long time.

The best way to avoid being stung is to cover all skin that comes into contact with water. And to avoid disturbing or breaking off parts of the colony which can continue to sting as they drift in the water.

6. Lightning on our shores: Which ONE of these statements is FALSE?

Singapore has one of the highest rate of lightning activity in the world

Lightning can happen without rain.

You are safe from lightning if you are wearing rubber shoes.

You are safe from lightning only in a lightning protected shelter.

It is best to evacuate at the first sign of bad weather. It is not safe to wait until it starts to rain or when lighting is already striking near you. Rubber shoes and sheltering under a tree will not protect you. Evacuate to a shelter with lightning protection.

More details about lightning.
http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2008/08/lightning-scariest-thing-on-shores.html

Explanation

It is best to evacuate at the first sign of bad weather. It is not safe to wait until it starts to rain or when lighting is already striking near you. Rubber shoes and sheltering under a tree will not protect you. Evacuate to a shelter with lightning protection.

More details about lightning.
http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2008/08/lightning-scariest-thing-on-shores.html

7.

Jellyfishes are sometimes seen in the water and washed up on the shores. Some of them can cause painful stings.

What is the BEST way to avoid being stung by a jellyfish?

Wear covered shoes and long pants.

Splash around so the jellyfish will go away.

Look out for them in the water and avoid them.

Pick up the jellyfish and throw it further away.

Jellyfishes are hard to spot. Some are small, others are transparent. Jellyfish stingers can continue to fire even after the animal is dead. So don't touch jellyfish, even if they are stranded on the beach. Sometimes, parts of the jellyfish may drift in the water, this will certainly happen if you try to move it or to disturb it.

The best way to avoid being hurt is to cover all skin that will come into contact with water (wear long pants and covered shoes) and to avoid touching your face and eyes with your hands.

Explanation

Jellyfishes are hard to spot. Some are small, others are transparent. Jellyfish stingers can continue to fire even after the animal is dead. So don't touch jellyfish, even if they are stranded on the beach. Sometimes, parts of the jellyfish may drift in the water, this will certainly happen if you try to move it or to disturb it.

The best way to avoid being hurt is to cover all skin that will come into contact with water (wear long pants and covered shoes) and to avoid touching your face and eyes with your hands.

8.

The stonefish looks like a stone. Its venom causes excruciating pain and can be fatal.

What is the BEST way to avoid stepping on a stonefish?

Wear thick soled shoes.

Splash around so the fish will go away.

Step only on bare sand.

Walk slowly, test your footing before putting your weight on your foot.

Avoid rocky areas.

The stonefish has dorsal fin spines that can penetrate thick soled shoes. It remains motionless and will not move even if there is splashing around it. It sometimes lies half buried in sand. It has been known to occur in reefs, coral rubble, muddy estuaries and rocky areas. So it could be anywhere.

The best way to avoid stepping on one is to watch where you step. Walk slowly, and test for pricks through your shoes before you put your weight on your foot.

Explanation

The stonefish has dorsal fin spines that can penetrate thick soled shoes. It remains motionless and will not move even if there is splashing around it. It sometimes lies half buried in sand. It has been known to occur in reefs, coral rubble, muddy estuaries and rocky areas. So it could be anywhere.

The best way to avoid stepping on one is to watch where you step. Walk slowly, and test for pricks through your shoes before you put your weight on your foot.