That will just cause the wound to swell even more. The Stingray Shuffle is a real and determined movement to help you avoid stings. A stingray sting is rarely fatal, but it usually leaves between one and four barbs/spines on the victim's wound. Thanks! Although most bees usually only sting once, wasps and hornets can sting again. How to Treat a Stingray Wound Former Seal Beach lifeguard Jake Howard breaks it down. To treat a sting from a bee, wasp, or hornet, dermatologists recommend the following tips: Stay calm. They're not stupid—they don't attack humans on purpose. Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You don’t want to step on a stingray–the result could be a painful sting. How to treat a Stingray sting If you do get stung, your wound needs immediate attention. Stingray Sting Treatment Do you have to go to hospital for stingray sting? In most cases, a stingray injury should be handled in a hospital's emergency department. The first thing you have to do when you treat a bee sting is remove the stinger, if present. Fortunately, you can follow a simple treatment paradigm if you find yourself in this situation. The stingray has a fierce reputation and is best known for its infamous tail – long, thin, and whip-like with one to three barbed venomous spinal blades. If someone is at home, call them and tell them to start boiling water in a large pot. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Hold paste on the bee sting site for 5 minutes to neutralize the venom. No access to a first-aid kit or medic station. A stingray injury is caused by the venomous tail spines, stingers or dermal denticles of rays in the order Myliobatiformes, most significantly those belonging to the families Dasyatidae, Urotrygonidae, Urolophidae, and Potamotrygonidae. [1] The food will help intake more water and a full stomach will lessen the pain. Onion ~ Keep an onion slice on the bee sting for about 1 hour. I got stung in my hand and went to hospital, but it's been over a week and it still is swollen and itchy. This article has been viewed 612,110 times. Mud ~ Hold mud on the bee sting to remove the stinger and reduce the swelling. Using the heat did wonders. Clean the wound with soap and a soft cloth; 5. Last Updated: May 27, 2019 Penetrating wound to head, neck, chest, or abdomen. Call 911. Immerse the wound in hot water to relieve the pain - heat destroys the toxin; 3. How to treat a stingray injury: The only thing that works is very hot water.. They normally live in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters, making it possible for them to come in contact with humans. Whenever you swim, especially in tropical waters, always be cautious. The treatment is quite simple, fast and efficient. Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society, July-August, 2007. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. These angular and flat swimmers are frequently found in the warm and shallow waters of tropical and subtropical coastal regions. [1] Over the next several days, if the area becomes red, tender, itchy, sore, or begins to swell or develop a cloudy discharge, seek medical attention at the local urgent care center or emergency room. Twenty-two species of stingrays are found in US coastal waters, 14 in the Atlantic and 8 in the Pacific. Be sure to take extra care cleaning the wound after. Drag or shuffle your feet when you are walking into the water so that you bump into stingrays instead of stepping on them. The common stingray sting symptoms are severe pain, swelling, and bleeding in the wounded area, sweating, a change in skin color, dizziness, weakness, low nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, palpitations, blood pressure, shortness of breath, muscle cramps, and arrhythmia. To treat a stingray sting, call emergency services immediately if the sting was to your head, neck, chest or abdomen. The bad news is that stingray stings are extremely painful. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual stingray sting. Patients should make their way back to the safety of shore by shuffling their feet (so they won't be stung again). The best way to treat a stingray sting is to avoid them in the first place! Try to express as much venom from the wound as you can without injuring yourself. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Dragging your feet will help to alert Stingray and minimize the chance of getting stung. This article describes the effects of a stingray sting. Otherwise, the venom will circulate faster, and the pain may become severe and unbearable. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017. What can I do? ; The sting is from a box jellyfish. Stingray stings usually happen by accident when someone steps on a stingray, resulting in injury to the legs or feet. By using our site, you agree to our. Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ideally, you should immediately see a doctor for medical care as soon as possible, but if that's not possible, do the following: 2. calling 911). In some cases, you will also need to remove the stinger from your skin. Symptoms of allergic reaction, excess blood loss, or venom intoxication. Scorpions can get caught up in bedding or crawl into shoes, which leaves them no choice but to sting when a foot follows them in. When you use clean cold water on a jellyfish sting it can actually inflame the welt, causing smaller barbs from the sting to release more venom into the victim’s skin, so take ocean water and run it over the affected area. You'll notice you've been injured because of the cuts and lacerations on your skin, and the blood coming out of the wound. The victims are mostly injured in their feet and lower legs, but the hands, arms, and torso can also be hurt if in contact with the animal's venomous spine; in a way, it's similar to a weever fish sting. Tips for Scorpion Sting Care . Call 911 if:. Remove the stinger. In order to prevent this it is important to do the “Stingray Shuffle” when entering the water of Southwest Florida’s beaches. A stingray sting is a very clean/sharp cut, like a knife cut, and the pain is very sharp. The majority lives in saltwater habitats, but there are also a few species swimming in freshwater rivers and lakes. He's coming over to my house tonight and I just wanted to know what you can do for a sting from a stingray. SOURCES: Diaz, J. Rotate your foot into patches of hot sand, do it for at least an hour. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to monitor the wound for signs of infection, keep reading! This article was co-authored by Chris M. Matsko, MD. How To Treat A REGULAR Stingray Sting. Also, watch out for people around you that might need help. If it's poisonous, you'll have some sort of reaction, like swelling, rash, etc. California, US East Coast, South America, Australia, Southeast Asia, and Africa are their natural habitat. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Stingrays are a flat-bodied cartilaginous fish with one or more barbed stingers located midway on the tail. Papaya ~ Wrap a slice of fresh papaya on the bee sting for an hour. Also eased my mind about if I was in danger. In most times, the pain peaks in between one and two hours, and could eventually last for two days if not treated quickly and appropriately. So, how does a stingray sting? Try using hydrogen peroxide in conjunction with holding pressure to help stop bleeding if you cannot control it with direct pressure alone. He called me at about 5 o'clock today and told me he was home. What do I do if I get stung by a stingray and I'm pregnant? Redness and swelling at the sting site occurs fairly quickly before any other symptoms. Find out first aid steps you can take immediately for these stings, symptoms to … Very helpful, "Article was very reassuring, and the hot water definitely worked.". You may need to take antibiotics and/or apply healing ointments. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. A stingray's stinger is covered with sharp, hooked barbs that are angled to enter … In most cases, they hide in the ocean's floor. "The information helped. A stingray sting is rarely fatal, but it usually leaves between one and four barbs/spines on the victim's wound. My friend went to the beach on Friday and came home today. if possible, put the affected area in hot water right away; the pain will lessen. If the sting is on your dog's foot then it may limp, hold up the paw, or lick at it. How do I know if I got stung by a stingray or a bee? Individuals with compromised immune systems such as diabetics or those with HIV/AIDS should pursue immediate and aggressive medical treatment. Although not usually aggressive, the stingray will use its stinger in self-defense when accidentally stepped on, secreting a venom into the victim's wound. It will help with the pain. Jake Howard. Don't do that. It’s important to remember that the only reason rays sting is because they feel threatened. Scan the wound for possible infections; One of the most common mistakes is to put ice on the wound. Will the barbs stay in my skin or fall out on their own? History of prior medical conditions and/or medication use that may influence the wound treatment. If you are stung by a Stingray, the first thing that you need to do is stop the bleeding if there is any. To treat a bee sting, you should wash the area with soap and water, apply ice or a cold compress to reduce swelling or pain, and use topical anti-itch cream to soothe your skin. The sting covers more than half an arm or leg. If you drag your feet in the water to avoid stepping on one, will you still get stung by bumping into the stingray? To avoid or reduce the chances of getting stung by a stingray, shuffle your feet in the sand and slide them along the bottom of the ocean if you need to move around, and the stingray will move out of the way. Normally, you will see bleeding. Stingray stings are not like bee, wasp, or jellyfish stings. The only thing that will help reduce the pain of a stingray injury is submerging your foot in the hottest water you can stand – without burning yourself.. Stingray injuries are usually defensive actions, not attacks. How to Treat an Injury . Whenever in doubt, always choose a higher-level of care (i.e. How to Treat a Yellow Jacket Sting - The most important thing to keep in mind to treat the bite of Yellow Jacket is to act quickly and seek immediate attention if you are highly allergic to stings. Stingrays, sharks, and other dangerous sea life could be around. Here are four reasons why you must learn the Stingray Shuffle and what could happen if you don't! Here's a complete guide to help keep you and your loved ones safe against stingray stings in the shallow, warm water this spring and summer. Embrace the most powerful quotes about the Sun. Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0 What is the physical and emotional impact the big ball of fire has on you? Pain from a stingray sting can last anywhere from a few hours to a couple days. You can also break an Aspirin in half and rub it onto the wound. If it becomes itchy, do NOT scratch or rub it. Scorpions are arachnids, related to spiders, ticks, and mites. In the unlikely event that a stingray injury occurs, there are two considerations in treating the wounded area: the stinger and the venom it contains. If there are, you’ll need to immediately pull them out with a pair of tweezers! Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? The effects of a bee sting can range from mild discomfort to severe irritation. Brain-eating amoeba: symptoms and treatment. The sting is painful, but usually not very harmful. The patient of a stingray sting will need medical attention. The ocean is home to thousands of wonderful creatures, and it is important to respect them and their home. Support wikiHow by If there is no pain, then treat as a puncture wound or laceration by Pain: There is no antivenom (antidote) to stingray toxin. Discover the eight phases of the Moon. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If you have a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting, you may need to seek medical attention. Careful, hydrogen peroxide may sting! How to Treat a Stingray Sting. Treat a Stingray Sting Stingrays are a flat-bodied cartilaginous fish with one or more barbed stingers located midway on the tail. These animals use their ten-inch barbed stingers to inject venom into their victims. Whenever you swim, especially in tropical waters, always be cautious. If the sting is on your dog's face or in its mouth, it may paw at the site, lick its lips, drool, pant, and rub its face on the ground. This can be done with fingernails or tweezers. Extreme pain and burning. Treat the sting exactly as described here, no matter where it is located. In Greek mythology, Odysseus was killed when his son Telegonus unintentionally stabbed him using a spear tipped with the spine of a stingray. If in doubt, seek nearby medical attention or call 911. In short, the “sting" of the stingray is a well-crafted, trauma- and But, it is also necessary to treat them with respect . Also, watch out for people around you that might need help. References  The toxins should not affect the birth unless they go untreated for several hours. If you think you were stung by a poisonous stingray, seek medical attention. The person displays signs of a severe allergic reaction. In fact, stingrays never attack; they just protect themselves from disturbing external forces, i.e., when provoked or stepped on. There are around 220 different species of stingrays. The stingray is a cartilaginous fish, and it is part of the shark's family tree. In this case, 89% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Where can stingrays be found? Wound cleanser (hydrogen peroxide, alcohol wipe, soap). Approved. Stingray Injury Treatment . This article has been viewed 612,110 times. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. When in doubt, confused, inebriated, obtunded, insecure, scared, or anything else you can think of. You’ll also want to seek immediate medical help if you have swelling of the tongue or other body parts, difficulty breathing, palpitations, seizures, or excessive blood loss. Find a clean bucket. If you are stung, calmly walk away from the area to avoid additional attacks. Treatment for Yellow Jacket Sting Normally, yellow jackets do not leave… The barbs have spikes that face backwards, hooking it into your skin. Stingrays generally do not attack aggressively or even actively defend themselves. Treatment for a sting depends on how many barbs penetrate the skin, and how deep they go. Make sure to apply proper ointments to the wound and keep it uncovered. You'll notice you've been injured because of the cuts and lacerations on your skin, and the blood coming out of the wound. They can be extremely painful and require immediate or urgent care. Once clean, control the bleeding with direct pressure for a few minutes, then immerse the wound in hot water for an hour to help alleviate the pain. Stingray stings are very painful and patients will at a minimum need to undergo treatment for pain control. Medical Disclaimer. They sting to hunt and for protection. This article is for information only. By shuffling your feet across the sandy bottom you can alert the stingray of your presence, they will uncover themselves and swim away. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017. When threatened, their primary reaction is to swim away. If it happened in the water, you can be sure it wasn't a bee. How to Avoid Getting Stung. If you know the steps to treat it ahead of time, you’ll save yourself (or a friend) undue discomfort. A stingray's venomous stinger (spine) at the base of their tails lashes out and can cause cuts or punctures. A stingray sting can be quite painful and may lead to severe symptoms. How to Treat Bee Sting Swelling. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The Stingray Sting: Symptoms and Treatment. Before anything else, stem the blood flow and seek medical attention as … X Australian Venom Research Unit: "First Aid Information: Stingray." If the closest facility requires at least a 10 minute drive, you should first obtain a first-aid kit and control any bleeding before transporting. The water will help flush out any unwanted material. If infections appear or pain persists, do seek medical assistance. Otherwise, irrigate the wound with sea water and remove any debris and foreign bodies from the affected area. How long can we live without it? When it comes to treating a sting from either a jellyfish or a stingray it is very important to know that ocean water is going to be your best friend. Parsley ~ Crush fresh parsley and rub into the bee sting. If the wound is still bleeding, apply pressure on it for a few minutes; 6. Benadryl stops the major itching and swelling — take it ASAP. unlocking this expert answer. A new environmental report released by ocean conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) reveals water companies are routinely discharging untreated sewage into UK waters. How to treat a stingray wound. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. You may need antibiotics and/or drainage of an abscess. Ask someone to use tweezers to remove the stingray stingers; 4. Regardless, it's a frustrating disturbance that's bound to upset your day. If there is blood, stop the bleeding first. If you believe the barb has broken off inside you, go to the ER immediately. If the injured person is in severe distress with pain, bleeding, vomiting, and faintness, then … If a full barb is caught in your skin, it will not fall out on its own. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/73\/Treat-a-Stingray-Sting-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Treat-a-Stingray-Sting-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/73\/Treat-a-Stingray-Sting-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid13219-v4-728px-Treat-a-Stingray-Sting-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"