BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS Josef Synek 18.1.2010

INTRODUCTION The blue-ringed octopus is found in tidal pools and mud flats all around Australia The blue-ringed octopus has a life span of approximately 2 years. Each individual blue-ringed octopus carries enough venom to kill 26 adults within minutes. The beak of a blue-ringed octopus can penetrate a wet-suit.

SIZE AND APPEARANCE 2-20 centimetres 10-100 grams Blue-ringed octopus is usually yellow to pale brown in color when resting, but when it gets angry or feels scared blue rings appear on its body and tentacles.

VENOM SYMPTOMS Tetrodotoxin blocks sodium channels, causing motor paralysis and respiratory arrest within minutes of exposure, leading to cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen. Onset of nausea. Hazy Vision. ( Within seconds you are blind.) Loss of sense of touch, speech and the ability to swallow. Within 3 minutes, paralysis sets in and your body goes into respiratory arrest. The poison gradually wears off after 24 hrs There is no antidote

TETRADOTOXIN The toxin is created by bacteria in the salivary glands of the octopus.

FIRST AID First aid treatment is pressure on the wound and rescue breathing (EAR) once the paralysis has disabled the victim's respiratory muscles, which often occurs within inutes of being bitten. Tetrodotoxin causes severe and often total body paralysis; the victim remains conscious and alert in a manner similar to curare or pancuronium bromide. This effect, however, is temporary and will fade over a period of hours as the tetrodotoxin is metabolized and excreted by the body. It is thus essential that rescue breathing be continued without pause until the paralysis subsides and the victim regains the ability to breathe on their own.

Thank you and attention…