Bites of all kinds are serious, as bacteria and diseases are released directly into the body, and can spread quickly.  Below is an outline of different kinds of bites and how to handle them.

Human bites- these should usually be treated as minor puncture wounds, and the area should be washed thoroughly with soap and water and then bandaged. Human bites can kill.

Marine creature bites- for bites and stings from creatures like jellyfish, Portuguese-men-of-war you need to be careful.  Common jellyfish stings are usually not a big problem unless you are stung many times or are either very young or very old.
You handle jellyfish stings much the same way as a Portuguese-man-of-war sting, even though p-m-o-w stings are more serious. Cover the jellyfish, or broken off tentacles with sand and Very Gently remove them and brush them off with a glove or piece of clothing.  Do not touch them with your bare hands. P-m-o-w tentacles are paper thin, and even if they have broken off they will cling to you and continue to sting, hence the reason their stings are considered more harmful.  It is possible to become ill from their sting, so if you’ve been stung by one make sure to seek medical attention quickly. If you are not hypersensitive to stings such as these, then you may treat these wounds as follows

• Thoroughly wash the area and apply rubbing alcohol (or salt water) several times, while being careful not to touch the area with your bare hands.
• Coat the area in a thick layer of backing soda and water paste, which may be removed (scraped off) about 30 minutes later.
• Once you have removed the layer, you should reapply the rubbing alcohol or vinegar. Salt water will also work if you have neither at hand.

If a stingray has stung you, then seek medical help immediately.  Wash the wound in fresh or salt water thoroughly and keep the wound submerged in hot water while you get help.

If a larger animal such as a shark, or other toothed creature has bitten you, refer to the animal bites section below.

Animal Bites- These can be superficial, but they can also be very serious.

Most bite and scratches from household pets are superficial and can be treated with a simple washing of the wound, dab of antibacterial ointment and an adhesive bandage.  But sometimes, Fido and Fluffy get a bit too frisky and really take a good bite out of you. When this happens, and when you are bitten by an animal that is not a pet of yours, you need to follow a different procedure.

• Wash the wound well with soap and water unless there is heavy bleeding. Then consult your doctor to determine if stitches are needed. If the wound appears serious do not attempt to clean it yourself.

• If the wound is large, or deep you should see your doctor as soon as possible, as the wounds must be cleaned and bandaged properly to prevent the spread of bacteria and lower the risk of infection. If the wound is large and deep, stitches will be needed.  In some cases, a tetanus shot and antibiotics will be necessary.
• If swelling, bruising, extreme pain, increasing redness (sometime seen as streaks), tenderness, warmth around the bite area, or drainage occurs then consult your doctor immediately.
  
• Also any flu-like symptoms, such as fever, exhaustion, and swollen glands that occur soon after the bite or scratch should be reported to your doctor as soon as they appear. This is crucial as it could be signs of infection or a disease.
• If someone else’s pet bit you, you must notify the owner and determine when the animals last rabies shot was. Vicious animals that were allowed to roam free should be reported to the local health departments.