First Aid for OCTOPUS BITES

Unless a person is allergic to it, venom produced by Hawaii's octopuses is not life-threatening. To clean an octopus bite, gently pull the edges of the wound open. Scrub directly inside the bite with clean gauze or a cloth soaked in clean, fresh water. Press on the wound to stop bleeding. If bleeding persists, or the edges of a wound are jagged or gaping, the victim likely needs stitches. Taping a bite shut is often effective, but may leave a more visible scar than suturing. For more details on wound care, see Staph, Strep and General Wound Care.