deepsix47
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STING RAY & MAN-OF-WAR SEASON IS RAPIDLY APPROCHING!!!!
Each year the warm waters of the gulf brings with it the Sting Rays spawning season. They move in close to shore and painful hits are almost a daily occurrence along the beaches.
Your best defence against these creatures is to always remember to shuffle your feet. If you step on one you will most likely be hit. If you bump one it will in all likelyhood merely move away (but not always). By shuffling your feet the Ray will also be alerted to your presence and once again move away should you get to close.
A good pair of polarised sun glasses can sometimes be useful in spotting larger Ray's despite the fact that they lay on the bottom and allow sand to cover them (their outline can often be seen) but for the small ones (and if you don't know what you are looking for) even these are virtually useless. Shuffling your feet and/or just staying out of the water is really your only defence.
The tragic death of famed Croc Hunter Steve Erwin brought Sting Rays into the news and somehow seems to have made monsters out of them. This really isn't the case and for the most part they are very docile creatures. They can and do however deliver a very painful sting that will more often then not require a trip to a hospitals emergency room.
I've dealt with Sting Rays throughout my life and until the Croc Hunter was killed had never heard of a death resulting from their hit. Very rarely have I ever seen a really large Ray in the surf line. They usually hang around off shore a bit in from 8' to 15' of water, beyond all of the commotion caused by beach goers. During the spawning season I snorkel out (sometimes scuba depending on water visibility) and look for the larger Rays. I collect their spines and with a little work turn them into pendants that are popular with surfers, divers and other ocean lovers. Before I get any hate mail here, let me say that the Ray is not harmed in any way, its spine grows back and I make a few bucks on the side. No harm done. PLEASE, don't attempt this unless you know what you're doing. I've seen their stings turn the toughest person into a screaming infant instantly.
I've never personally been hit by a Ray but have been with a number who have and helped with many more until paramedics arrived. Most hits occur on the foot or ankle. Should you get hit and go to an emergency room only to find that you have a while to wait, insist immediately on a pan of warm soapy water (they will provide this if you insist and/or create a scene). Submerge the wound and you will get immediate pain relief. You will know when you need to change the water, trust me.
Once, at a popular local beach, a little girl (I think she was 4) got hit. She was screaming and completely incoherent due to the pain. Someone called the Paramedics and I sent my son up to a nearby restaurant. He brought us back a pan of hot water with a little detergent in it. When the paramedics arrived, although still upset, she was quite. This is NOT a substitute for the doctors visit. Remove the wound from the water and you will know why. I can go on with more examples but I think you get the picture.
The Man-of-War (a Jelly Fish) is a different story. They can be quite deadly. It doesn't matter if they are in the water or washed up on the beach. Even a piece of them can deliver a painful sting. They do not secrete a toxin like many believe. You are actually being stung. If you were to look at the organism under a microscope you would see tiny translucent balls. When these come into contact with a target, they fire a tiny barb. You are actually being stung by hundreds if not thousands of these little barbs all at one time.
If it is a massive sting the victim can go into shock immediately and cause a cardiac arrest. If it should be around the head, mouth, throat, etc., it will cause immediate swelling that will hamper the victims breathing, if not cut it off completely.
Before I go into First Aid for these stings let me say that I personally think that every diver, surfer, and beach goer should avail themselves of the many good multi media first aid courses out there. It will not only allow you to treat yourself effectively but also help others.
I also think that any diver, surfer, or anyone that spends a great deal of time in and/or around the ocean should have a good first aid kit that includes not only the standard things but also the special items required to treat specific injuries that are common to the ocean. Mine is in my truck in a fishing tackle box.
First Aid for a Man-of-War hit (believe it or not) is good old Adolf Meat Tenderizer. It can be found on any grocers shelf. The man of war organism is pure protein. The Adolph's does it's job just like it does on a steak. It breaks down the protein and kills the organism instantly on contact. Pour the Adolph's liberally on the area of contact, then with the back (dull edge) of your divers knife, gently scrape away the jelly like substance from the area. Treat your victim for shock if needed and get them medical help immediately.
I was hit by a Man-of-War once in California off Redondo Beach. I had violated a basic rule of beach diving (but never again....lol). Had it not been for the fast actions of one of my diving partners and a very good diving first aid kit that was in our van, my death would have been virtually assured. She towed me into the beach, got an airway inserted, performed CPR, dumped on the Adolph's and had it scraped away all before the paramedics arrived. The life guard just watched and learned (she wouldn't have it any other way....lol). A week later I was out of the hospital and two weeks after that we all got together and completed that dive.
I've been around the ocean for most of my life. I love it and play in it on a regular basis. Please don't think that my many posts on its hazards are meant to discourage or intimidate others from getting the same enjoyment out of it that I do. My posts are meant purely to educate.
The ocean is a large part of our little planet but a world unto itself. The safety rules of that world are different from the rules of the land. To fully enjoy that world we really need to learn and follow those rules.
Deepsix
Each year the warm waters of the gulf brings with it the Sting Rays spawning season. They move in close to shore and painful hits are almost a daily occurrence along the beaches.
Your best defence against these creatures is to always remember to shuffle your feet. If you step on one you will most likely be hit. If you bump one it will in all likelyhood merely move away (but not always). By shuffling your feet the Ray will also be alerted to your presence and once again move away should you get to close.
A good pair of polarised sun glasses can sometimes be useful in spotting larger Ray's despite the fact that they lay on the bottom and allow sand to cover them (their outline can often be seen) but for the small ones (and if you don't know what you are looking for) even these are virtually useless. Shuffling your feet and/or just staying out of the water is really your only defence.
The tragic death of famed Croc Hunter Steve Erwin brought Sting Rays into the news and somehow seems to have made monsters out of them. This really isn't the case and for the most part they are very docile creatures. They can and do however deliver a very painful sting that will more often then not require a trip to a hospitals emergency room.
I've dealt with Sting Rays throughout my life and until the Croc Hunter was killed had never heard of a death resulting from their hit. Very rarely have I ever seen a really large Ray in the surf line. They usually hang around off shore a bit in from 8' to 15' of water, beyond all of the commotion caused by beach goers. During the spawning season I snorkel out (sometimes scuba depending on water visibility) and look for the larger Rays. I collect their spines and with a little work turn them into pendants that are popular with surfers, divers and other ocean lovers. Before I get any hate mail here, let me say that the Ray is not harmed in any way, its spine grows back and I make a few bucks on the side. No harm done. PLEASE, don't attempt this unless you know what you're doing. I've seen their stings turn the toughest person into a screaming infant instantly.
I've never personally been hit by a Ray but have been with a number who have and helped with many more until paramedics arrived. Most hits occur on the foot or ankle. Should you get hit and go to an emergency room only to find that you have a while to wait, insist immediately on a pan of warm soapy water (they will provide this if you insist and/or create a scene). Submerge the wound and you will get immediate pain relief. You will know when you need to change the water, trust me.
Once, at a popular local beach, a little girl (I think she was 4) got hit. She was screaming and completely incoherent due to the pain. Someone called the Paramedics and I sent my son up to a nearby restaurant. He brought us back a pan of hot water with a little detergent in it. When the paramedics arrived, although still upset, she was quite. This is NOT a substitute for the doctors visit. Remove the wound from the water and you will know why. I can go on with more examples but I think you get the picture.
The Man-of-War (a Jelly Fish) is a different story. They can be quite deadly. It doesn't matter if they are in the water or washed up on the beach. Even a piece of them can deliver a painful sting. They do not secrete a toxin like many believe. You are actually being stung. If you were to look at the organism under a microscope you would see tiny translucent balls. When these come into contact with a target, they fire a tiny barb. You are actually being stung by hundreds if not thousands of these little barbs all at one time.
If it is a massive sting the victim can go into shock immediately and cause a cardiac arrest. If it should be around the head, mouth, throat, etc., it will cause immediate swelling that will hamper the victims breathing, if not cut it off completely.
Before I go into First Aid for these stings let me say that I personally think that every diver, surfer, and beach goer should avail themselves of the many good multi media first aid courses out there. It will not only allow you to treat yourself effectively but also help others.
I also think that any diver, surfer, or anyone that spends a great deal of time in and/or around the ocean should have a good first aid kit that includes not only the standard things but also the special items required to treat specific injuries that are common to the ocean. Mine is in my truck in a fishing tackle box.
First Aid for a Man-of-War hit (believe it or not) is good old Adolf Meat Tenderizer. It can be found on any grocers shelf. The man of war organism is pure protein. The Adolph's does it's job just like it does on a steak. It breaks down the protein and kills the organism instantly on contact. Pour the Adolph's liberally on the area of contact, then with the back (dull edge) of your divers knife, gently scrape away the jelly like substance from the area. Treat your victim for shock if needed and get them medical help immediately.
I was hit by a Man-of-War once in California off Redondo Beach. I had violated a basic rule of beach diving (but never again....lol). Had it not been for the fast actions of one of my diving partners and a very good diving first aid kit that was in our van, my death would have been virtually assured. She towed me into the beach, got an airway inserted, performed CPR, dumped on the Adolph's and had it scraped away all before the paramedics arrived. The life guard just watched and learned (she wouldn't have it any other way....lol). A week later I was out of the hospital and two weeks after that we all got together and completed that dive.
I've been around the ocean for most of my life. I love it and play in it on a regular basis. Please don't think that my many posts on its hazards are meant to discourage or intimidate others from getting the same enjoyment out of it that I do. My posts are meant purely to educate.
The ocean is a large part of our little planet but a world unto itself. The safety rules of that world are different from the rules of the land. To fully enjoy that world we really need to learn and follow those rules.
Deepsix
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