You're swimming in the sea
when you feel a long creature
brush by you underwater.
Suddenly, there's a sharp pain in your arm.
Whatever that thing was, it just bit you.
You see it slithering away
through the water.
Was that a snake?
And how concerned should you be
about its bite?
Sea snakes live in the tropical waters
of the Indian and Pacific oceans,
but not in the Atlantic Ocean.
Despite this,
they are the world's most abundant
and venomous reptiles.
Just one of their bites could ruin your
whole day,
and maybe even your whole life.
Their venom is a potent neurotoxin
that can kill you if you don't get
treated immediately.
Be aware of your surroundings
at all times.
If you can,
avoid the waters where sea snakes
are known to live.
If you see any snakes,
keep your distance.
Do not grab or engage with them
in any way.
If you make any aggressive
or provocative actions,
they will cause the snake to strike.
If a snake approaches you, stay calm.
They don't have the best eyesight
and may only want to investigate.
Once it knows you're not a threat
or a potential mate,
it should leave you alone.
Then move away slowly.
The snake might interpret any fast
movements as a threat.
And be aware that they can swim
backward just as fast as forward.
But what if it bites you?
Sea snake venom can
paralyze your muscles.
So after being bitten,
the most important thing you can do
is get out of the water.
Otherwise, you could drown.
And don't bother trying
to suck out the poison.
It won't help.
Immediately remove any clothing
or wetsuit around the bite.
The area needs to be
clear for treatment.
Apply pressure to the wound
as soon as possible
to slow the venom's spread.
Wrap the wound tightly with
a pressure bandage,
and continue it as far up your arm
or leg as you can.
But don't cut off your circulation.
Every 10 minutes, remove the bandage
and clean the wound.
Then reapply the bandage.
Continue this process for four
to six hours after being bitten.
There are 50 species of sea snakes,
and all of them are venomous.
Once bitten,
you'll need medical treatment right away.
If you don't feel any effects
from the venom,
get to a medical facility
and calmly let them know
what has happened.
It can sometimes take up to three hours
for the poison to take effect.
You could feel muscle pain
or have paralysis and difficulty speaking.
You'll likely be admitted
into the intensive care unit
and be treated with antivenom.
Thousands of divers and anglers
get bitten by sea snakes every year.
Anglers often get bitten
when pulling nets out of the water.
A 23-year-old was working on a trawler
75 km (46.6 mi) off the coast
of Northern Australia.
A sea snake bit him as he pulled
a net out of the sea.
His ship sent an immediate call for help,
but he died within two hours.
Thankfully this was a rare case,
as only about 3% of the bites are fatal.
But a sea snake bite still wouldn't be
much fun for you,
so keep an eye out for them in the water.
And don't think you're any safer on land.
Sea snakes are amphibious
and go onto land to shed their skin,
mate and lay eggs.
They're not the only deadly snakes
known to venture out of their
watery homes.
Take the anaconda, for instance.
If one of these beasts latches onto you,
you'll need a lot more than an antivenom
to save your life.
Want to know how to escape
its powerful grip?
Find out here.