• Question: How long does it take for Blue Ringed Octopus venom to kill a human?

    Asked by asmodeus to Glo, Clare, Dave, Ozge, Sean on 20 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by devistator505mutant110911236721196729115672129344596epicstar.
    • Photo: Gloeta Massie

      Gloeta Massie answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Just a few minutes. Basically, the toxin involved, tetrodotoxin, paralyzes your diaphragm. Your heart keeps beating though, until it runs out of oxygen, at which point – you are dead. 🙁 Luckily! If you can call the emergency services before you are completely paralyzed (or have someone else do that for you), you have a really good chance of survival (90%). You’ll need to be on a ventilator until the paralysis stops, but, after that – you can go home. Crazy, eh?

    • Photo: Dave Sproson

      Dave Sproson answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Off the top of my head *reads Glo’s answer* just a few minutes! 🙂

    • Photo: Clare Woulds

      Clare Woulds answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      That sounds scary.

    • Photo: Ozge Ozkaya

      Ozge Ozkaya answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Nothing to add really…:)

    • Photo: Sean Clement

      Sean Clement answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      So there’s no nerve damage or anything, You just get put on aventilator until it wears off and you’re fine? Wow, we’re all learning something here…

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