Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Determine the severity of your symptoms
• Part 2 of 3: How to clean a wound
• Part 3 of 3: Seek Medical Help
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Stingrays are lamellar cartilaginous fish with at least 1 spine on their tail, located in the middle. They are usually found in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters, so they can be easily bumped into. Usually, stingrays do not show aggression, but if you accidentally step on them, they sting in self-defense, releasing poison into the victim's wound. Fortunately, we have developed a simple treatment regimen that you can apply if you find yourself in this situation.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Determine the severity of your symptoms

1. 1 Take it easy. While stingray bites are troublesome and painful, they are rarely fatal. In fact, most of the deaths caused by stingrays are not due to poison intoxication, but due to internal organ damage (if the stingray is stung in the chest or abdomen), heavy blood loss, an allergic reaction, or a secondary infection. If these complications arise, then you can be provided with qualified medical care.
2. 2 Determine what symptoms you have. Take some time to determine what symptoms you have. Common symptoms include:
   • Pain
   • Edema
   • Bleeding
   • Weakness
   • Headache
   • Muscle spasms
   • Nausea / vomiting / diarrhea
   • Dizziness / lightheadedness
   • Heart palpitations
   • Labored breathing
   • Fainting
3. 3 Prioritize serious symptoms. In medical terms, some symptoms can be more serious than others. Determine if there is an allergic reaction, if there is a lot of blood loss or poisoning with poison. If you have these symptoms, you need immediately seek medical attention.
   • Allergic reaction: swelling of the tongue, lips, head, neck, or other parts of the body; difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or wheezing, red and / or itchy rash; fainting or loss of consciousness
   • Large blood loss: Dizziness, fainting or loss of consciousness, sweating, heart palpitations, decreased blood pressure, rapid breathing
   • Poison intoxication: headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, muscle spasms, convulsions
4. 4 Get the medical attention / medication you need. Get the care / medication you need depending on the severity of your symptoms. Depending on the situation, you can use a first aid kit, contact your local health facility, or call emergency services.
   • If you have even the slightest doubt, it is better to play it safe (for example, call the emergency services).

Part 2 of 3: How to clean a wound

1. 1 Rinse the wound with seawater. While in water, rinse the wound with seawater, cleaning the affected area of ​​any particles and foreign bodies. Use the tweezers from the first aid kit if necessary. After thoroughly rinsing the area and removing all foreign bodies, get out of the water and pat dry with a clean towel, being careful not to hurt yourself further.
   • NOT remove the stuck particles from the neck, chest or abdomen.
2. 2 Control bleeding. Bleeding often occurs after the bite. As always, the best way to stop the bleeding is to apply direct pressure to the source for a few minutes, or slightly higher using one finger. The longer the pressure is applied, the more likely the bleeding will decrease.
   • If direct pressure alone is not enough, then use hydrogen peroxide as well. Beware, there may be a burning sensation when using hydrogen peroxide!
3. 3 Soak the wound with hot water. You can take advantage of this advice by combining it with the previous one, that is, using direct pressure to stop the bleeding. By wetting the wound with hot water, you can relieve pain by denaturing the venom's protein complex. The optimum temperature is 45 ° C, but so that it does not burn. Leave the wound in the water for 30 to 90 minutes, or until the pain subsides.
4. 4 Watch for signs of infection in the wound. Proper wound care requires rinsing with soap and water to keep it clean and ensuring that the wound remains dry at all times. Keep the wound open and apply antibiotic ointment daily. Avoid non-antibiotic creams, lotions, and ointments.
   • If the area becomes red, tender, sore, itchy, or swollen and cloudy over the next few days, seek medical attention from your local hospital or emergency department. You may need antibiotics and / or drainage of the abscess.

Part 3 of 3: Seek Medical Help

1. 1 Find a first aid kit. Wherever you are, the first aid kit should be easily accessible. Have someone bring it to you while you look for symptoms and clean up the wound. Items found in the first aid kit that will be useful to you in the first place:
   • Gauze
   • Wound cleaner (hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, soap)
   • Tweezers
   • Pain reliever
   • Antibiotic ointment
   • Adhesive plaster
2. 2 Find the nearest hospital, emergency room, or emergency room. It helps if a doctor examines and treats your wound. An experienced professional will help you, in addition, the risk of infection and other complications will be significantly reduced. Based on the medical examination, a treatment plan will be drawn up with instructions and recommendations.
   • If it is at least 10 minutes to the nearest institution, then before you go there, you need to find a first aid kit and stop the bleeding.
3. 3 Call emergency services. This is necessary for safety net. Call emergency services for any of the following situations:
   • It is not possible to use the first aid kit or there is no medical center nearby
   • Penetrating injury to the head, neck, chest, or abdomen
   • Symptoms of an allergic reaction, large blood loss or poisoning
   • You have a medical condition or are taking medications that may affect wound healing
   • When in doubt, insecure, scared, inhibited, confused, drunk, and the like ...

Tips

• When swimming, especially in tropical waters, always exercise caution. There may be stingrays, sharks and other dangerous marine life nearby. Observe the people around you, some of them may need your help.
• When walking in the water, drag your feet or keep them on the seabed, as it is better to bump into a slope instead of stepping on it.
• Try to squeeze as much of the poison out of the wound as possible without hurting yourself. This will help manage the pain.
• If the sand is hot, you can submerge the injured body part in it. Then take additional steps to cleanse the wound.
• If you are in a boat, you can get hot water from a mortar.
• Benadryl will stop itching and swelling - take it as soon as possible.Alternatively, you can break an aspirin tablet in half and rub it into the wound.

Warnings

• People with weakened immune systems, such as diabetics or those living with HIV / AIDS, should be given prompt and effective treatment as soon as possible.
• If in doubt, consult your nearest medical office or call emergency services.

Call emergency services right away or go to the nearest emergency room if you feel any of the following:

• • Tightness in the chest
  • Swelling of the face, lips, or mouth
  • Labored breathing
  • Allergic rash or diffuse skin rash
  • Nausea, vomiting

What do you need

• First aid kit, which contains: gauze, wound cleaner, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, pain reliever and adhesive plaster.
• Hot water of the highest possible temperature that the victim can only withstand.
• Opportunity to visit a doctor (at the nearest hospital, emergency department or emergency room)