The pain from a stingray sting is sharp and excruciating, so it may be difficult to keep calm and think clearly. So before running out of the water, take a few seconds to clean around the puncture wound. The most common areas to be stung by stingrays are the foot and lower leg. Your upper body and arms are the second-most common areas.
Removing a stinger can be more painful in the short-term because of its serrated edges tearing tissue as you pull it out. However, removing it quickly may prevent more venom from getting into your wound, which is beneficial in the longer term. Pulling out a stinger will also cause more blood to seep out of the wound for a few minutes, but it can help flush out any debris and bacteria. Be sure to rinse it in more sea water to help clean it. Pulling out a stinger from an organ or major artery may trigger massive and fatal bleeding, so in these circumstances leave it in and seek medical attention as quick as you can.
Additional symptoms caused by the venom include: swollen lymph nodes near the wound, difficulty breathing, elevated heart rate, reduced blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, muscle cramps, headache, fainting, and/or seizures. [5] X Research source Be sure to test hot water for young children first before you soak their wounds in hot water. The area around the puncture wound will swell and turn dark red, sometimes with a bluish tint. Although the pain from the sting is most immediate and typically peaks in 1-2 hours, the symptoms from the venom can escalate over 2 days. You may notice swelling or discoloration around the sting, but more severe symptoms could include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, headache, seizures, or necrosis. [6] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Anti-inflammatories and analgesics (painkillers) should be considered short-term strategies for pain control while you get to the nearest hospital or walk-in clinic and receive medical attention. If you are bleeding profusely from the stingray’s puncture wound, then take acetaminophen for some pain relief instead of NSAIDs because they tend to “thin” the blood and reduce your body’s clotting ability.
For immediate pain control, the doctor will likely inject a local anesthetic into and around the wound. Nerve blocks can also be used. Oral antibiotics may be given to prevent infection if the wound is deep or there is a significant delay in seeking treatment. Your doctor may also give opioids for severe pain. The wound will be thoroughly cleaned, although stitches may not be applied until the doctor is confident that there’s a great risk of infection. You also might get a tetanus shot. If the stinger is venomous (not all are) antiserum medication will be given to reverse the side effects of the venom. Your doctor also might want to do x-rays or another form of imaging to make sure that there are no barbs that are still stuck in your skin and to assess any internal damage that could have been done by penetrating barbs. If someone was stung in the chest or abdomen, consider getting an EKG and lab work so your doctor can monitor your cardiac activity. If they’re concerned about more severe side effects, like shock, they’ll transfer you somewhere with an ICU. [9] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Talk to local fishermen or surfers who are familiar with the coastlines and beaches about what areas to avoid. Don’t touch dead stingrays. The stingers obviously remain sharp after death, but venom can still be secreted from them also, so don’t pick one up. If you’re fishing and catch a stingray, cut it from the line rather than trying to untangle it. Avoid swimming too close to the seafloor since a stingray could easily reach you. [11] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Stamping on the bottom as you slowly tread through murky water can also scare stingrays off from a distance. You can also use a pole to poke the sand ahead of you before taking a step forward. [13] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Wearing footwear while in the water doesn’t really make a difference in preventing a stingray injury. The stingers can easily penetrate rubber and nylon material.
Learning the general habits of the local species while on vacation can keep you from getting into risky situations. Stingray injuries often occur in late summer and early fall, when they burrow in the sand in shallow surf. While most stingrays live in salt water, there are a few freshwater species that have venom that’s more toxic. [15] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Avoid going to remote areas that are isolated from medical help. The profuse bleeding and venom can be life-threatening if medical help is delayed by more than a few hours.
