When participating in snorkeling or diving activities at Hon Mun, Binh Ba Island, or the rocky shores around Vinh Hy Bay, visitors are often fascinated by the rich marine ecosystem. However, coral reefs and submerged rocky reefs are also favorite habitats for sea urchins. With long, sharp spines containing mild toxins, sea urchins can pierce through thin rubber flip-flops if stepped on accidentally. While a sea urchin sting is not life-threatening, it immediately triggers intense, throbbing pain, swelling, and leaves behind black marks from spine tips embedded deep in the skin, making walking extremely difficult.
First-Aid Steps on the Beach
As soon as you realize you have stepped on a sea urchin, calmly and slowly make your way out of deep water onto the shore, avoiding panicking, which may cause you to step on other urchins nearby. Sit down on the beach and absolutely do not use tweezers or pliers to dig or probe deeply into the wound in an attempt to pull the spines out. Sea urchin spines are extremely brittle; squeezing them with force when they are embedded deep will only crush them into tiny fragments inside the tissue, leading to a higher risk of severe infection and more intense pain.
A highly effective and safe traditional remedy frequently used by fishermen in Central Vietnam involves gentle tapping combined with mild acids. Find a smooth, hard object (such as a plastic knife handle or a clean, smooth pebble) and tap gently and repeatedly around the puncture site. The goal of this tapping is to crush the brittle spine tips inside the skin into fine powder. Next, apply fresh lime or lemon juice, vinegar, or even your own urine (due to its mildly acidic nature) onto the wound. The natural acid quickly dissolves the calcium content of the crushed spines, miraculously relieving the stinging pain after only about 1-2 hours.
Wound Care in the Following Days
After completing on-site first aid to ease the pain, wash the foot thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water, then disinfect it with medical antiseptic alcohol. Over the next 2-3 days, the skin will naturally absorb the dissolved spine fragments and expel any tiny foreign particles through the body's natural healing process.
However, if you notice spreading redness, pus, fever, or escalating pain that prevents you from bearing weight on your foot, these are signs of a bacterial skin infection or cellulitis. In this case, seek immediate medical attention at the nearest medical facility so healthcare professionals can examine and clean the wound and prescribe appropriate antibiotics. When swimming near rocky areas, always wear specialized water shoes with thick rubber soles to protect your feet best.
Quick Checklist:
-
Move slowly out of the water onto shore immediately upon realizing you have stepped on a sharp object or sea urchin spines.
-
Never use pliers or tweezers to probe or dig deep into the wound in an attempt to extract the spines.
-
Apply traditional first aid: Tap gently to crush the spines and apply acidic liquids (lime, vinegar) to dissolve the calcium on the spot.
-
Clean the wound with antibacterial soap and closely monitor the skin for signs of swelling or infection.
-
Wear thick-soled water shoes or reef booties when joining snorkeling or diving tours on offshore islands.
