Heard this on the news this morning, one found at Berkley, but then some callers rang in to say they've always been there but there's a lot more at the moment


https://www.wavefm.com.au/news/illawarra-newsroom/141782-urgent-illawarra-blue-ringed-octopus

I understand its rare to be bitten unless you are trying to grab them.
But if a person is bitten they kill by paralysis of all skeletal muscles.
The brain heart and BP keep working, you just cant breath, and you are aware you cant move or breath.
Same as Curare in south America and Suxamethonium in anaethetics pancuronium or vecuronium..
Horific way to die.
BUT, if someone performs mouth to mouth or uses a mask to ventilate the person continuously until it wears off or the ambulance arrives then there are no adverse outcomes. Its doesnt cause bleeding kidney or nerve damage like snake venom.

So if someone colapses has a pulse, do mouth to mouth and send for ambulance. The bite can be painless. and the person just gets weak and colapses and cant call for help . If its a blue ring you will save them. depending on envenomation and the size of the person the paralysis wears off over hours.

I dont think an anti venom has ever been developed because its much safer to just support the person until it wears off. Antivenoms are highly likely to cause severe allergy responses and are often killers themselves.

Harrow said..
They're everywhere. I remember playing with them as a kid in Sydney and on the NSW South Coast until my parent's told me not to touch them. Before we knew they dangerous we used to love the way the rings would light up when you picked them up.

Totally harmless as long as you ask someone to give you a couple of hours of mouth to mouth before you lose the ability to speak.

Do you go in the lottery regularly..?