CROCLIST: Steve Irwin - Dead - CNN

[Adam Britton]

According to those who saw the footage, yes Steve pulled the barb out
immediately.  Others have made a similar observation that Steve could have
been saved if he'd had the presence of mind to remember his first aid, but
then again it can be hard to remember these things in the heat of the moment
particularly as stingray barbs sting like nothing else (according to people
I know who've stepped on them).  I've been stung by catfish spines, which I
think are a similar toxin, and it feels like being stabbed with a red-hot
poker - your first thought it to get it out of there.

Adam



-----Original Message-----
From: croclist-bounces at lists.gatorhole.com
[mailto:croclist-bounces at lists.gatorhole.com] On Behalf Of
ZooVolunteer at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, 19 September 2006 2:27 PM
To: croclist at lists.gatorhole.com
Subject: Re: CROCLIST: Steve Irwin - Dead - CNN

In a message dated 9/4/2006 4:20:42 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
crocodopolis at earthlink.net writes:



	Irwin was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest,
according
	>to Cairns police sources. Irwin was filming an underwater
documentary at
	>the time.
	



I have a question about Irwin's death that I have not been able to find an
answer to.  

I have read and seen reports that said he pulled the barb out himself.  Is
this true?  Any one familliar with elementry first aid knows that you don't
pull out any foreignobject penetrating the body in a puncture wound.  The
foreign object may be stopping the wound from bleeding out.  

Was there no one in the party that was trained in even basic first aid?

Gloria