BajaNomad

sting rays

mulege marv - 7-2-2005 at 05:59 AM

whats the best first aid teatment for a stingray sting ? i have known of 2 hits in the last 2 weeks and no one was really sure what to do.

dug - 7-2-2005 at 06:05 AM

Hot water to soak the wound. The hotter the water, the faster the toxin is neutralized and the pain stops. Add some betadyne or something similar to the water to disinfect the wound and reduce chance of infection.

I've done this on myself and on several others. The severe pain lasts about 15 minutes and it's usually back to normal in a couple of hours.

Oso - 7-2-2005 at 07:49 AM

Pee on it.

(Unless the hot water is readily available.)

Roberto - 7-2-2005 at 08:11 AM

Pee will do nothing. Well, nothing helpful, anyway. As laready said, hot water is the ticket, and instantaneous.

Bruce R Leech - 7-2-2005 at 08:21 AM

the fisherman use very hot water with lots of lemon juice. I have used this my self and it works . but it really helps to drink lots of tequila and just get smashed and pass out for a couple houris to get through the worst of it.

also I'm told by others that marijuana is real good but I cant testify to that I am not a user . but it hearts so bad that if I ever get stung again I will try it with the booze if I can find some .

good luck it is the most painful thing I have ever been through. women say it is twice as bad as child birth. and it bothered me for 6 months after.

Bob and Susan - 7-2-2005 at 08:48 AM

I got stung once..the little bugger stung right thru leather tennis shoes.

Hurt like HELL for about 2 hours.
Then just like a small cut.

I went to the doctor and he gave me a tetnus shot...just in case.

I think the tequila cure is the best too;);)

Oso - 7-2-2005 at 09:28 AM

If "hot" is not available, then "warm" must be next best.;D

Agua Caliente

MrBillM - 7-2-2005 at 09:32 AM

Last year I got nailed by a stingray for the first time in my life. Amazing because I've been wading in the Pacific Ocean since I was a toddler. I used to brag to others less fortunate that I'd gone about 55 years of regular wading, swimming and surfing and never been touched.

Anyway, I got hit and was in excruciating pain. Jumped in my Zuki and headed back into camp. I ran across the owner's son and asked what they did. He said Hot Water, as hot as you can stand. Add Epson Salts and Vinegar if you have it and the pain will be gone within an hour and one-half. I did and it was. Not really sure if ALL of those ingredients are necessary or if only the Hot Water would do it.

Been hit many times

jrbaja - 7-2-2005 at 12:10 PM

as a surfer and snorkeler. First, try and get on top of the water (swimming, not walking) immediately to avoid getting hit.
Hot water is the best cure for both rays and jellyfish stings. I keep a pot of water on the camp stove ready for heating when anybody is in the water and have used it many times. The sooner and hotter, the better. Time schedules listed are right on except Bruces?
6 months? Either there was still some barb in you which would have caused severe infection or you didn't use the hot water.

turtleandtoad - 7-2-2005 at 05:17 PM

Almost all venoms in the ocean are protein based, (sea-snakes are one of the exceptions) that is why heat works. It breaks down the protein. Any heat will work, the safest and easiest is hot water. Peeing on it was an old surfer/diver trick when hot water wasn't available. I've used hot coffee also.

Just Don't........

MrBillM - 7-2-2005 at 05:34 PM

Pee in the Hot Coffee.

bajalera - 7-3-2005 at 02:48 PM

Never had occasion to try it, but some Mexican friends recommend meat tenderizer, or lacking that, a piece of fresh papaya--which would go along with the breaking-down-the-protein approach.

Lera

I've heard many folks

jrbaja - 7-3-2005 at 02:51 PM

swear by those two methods as well. Just never tried em.

Diver - 7-3-2005 at 03:03 PM

Meat tenderizer and other enzymes work fairly well on jelly fish and man-o-war stings but are not very useful for the deeper penetration and higher volume toxins of a stingray.
The mild acid and warmth in urine helps a bit with the the smaller stings but did you ever try to pea on your own leg while dancing around in pain ?

bajajudy - 7-3-2005 at 03:18 PM

Diver No
but the mental image has me giggling

[Edited on 7-3-2005 by bajajudy]

Osprey - 7-3-2005 at 06:13 PM

Before you apply any kind of remedy it is absolutely necessary to catch the ray, remove the stinger. Walk (or crawl) 110 meters above the high water mark, bury the stinger in the sand wrapped in a red rag soaked in your own blood. If you do not follow these instructions you may avoid the immediate pain, avoid measurable infection then and there but lasting effects may show up much later -- I've heard of those who did not follow the ritual who wound up, decades later, wandering in the mountains chewing on bamboo shoots and mumbling things about natives, tropical furniture and feng shui.

Sharksbaja - 7-3-2005 at 06:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey
Before you apply any kind of remedy it is absolutely necessary to catch the ray, remove the stinger. Walk (or crawl) 110 meters above the high water mark, bury the stinger in the sand wrapped in a red rag soaked in your own blood. If you do not follow these instructions you may avoid the immediate pain, avoid measurable infection then and there but lasting effects may show up much later -- I've heard of those who did not follow the ritual who wound up, decades later, wandering in the mountains chewing on bamboo shoots and mumbling things about natives, tropical furniture and feng shui.


taking a leak is much easier, just face the ocean first.

My son got one between the toes on Catalina. Took weeks to heal. Still has a good scar. He was pretty brave for a 5 yr old.