I was down for about thirty five days between late June and the middle of September. I was on the Mirador beach every day swimming, fishing, snorkeling and jet skiing. I usually see man of wars every day this time of year. This year I only say two all summer and that was as the tide was going out on the beach. What a great summer of fun in the water!
Pretty sure it was light at the public beaches, however out in the Estuaries it was a total stingray party. In Morua there was plenty of stingray for about a million tacos. thats why we dont swim in the estuaries
I haven't been hit by a stingray, but have helped several who have, including my daughter who got stung twice. Not a good thing to happen on a vacation. Fortunately we haven't been stung by a Portuguese Man-of-War, but have heard the stories. Sounds like it can be real bad. I read about the treatment options and it seemed like the popular procedure was to spray the area with vinegar. Has anyone found a better method?
I haven't seen a stingray in the Mirador beach area in about twenty years. I used to see them all the time when I was snorkeling. I've seen plenty of people stung by the man of wars but never a stingray hit in this area. I've also had a lot of people come off the beach and ask for Windex after they got stung.
I haven't seen a stingray in the Mirador beach area in about twenty years. I used to see them all the time when I was snorkeling. I've seen plenty of people stung by the man of wars but never a stingray hit in this area. I've also had a lot of people come off the beach and ask for Windex after they got stung.
Russ... what I am missing... you pee window cleaner? Man, you better get that checked out or the squeegee guys will have you up on the footbridge tinkling on the gringo car windows below for them!! :rofl:
All kidding aside Russ, it sounds like you have been stung or been around people that were stung by a jellyfish. How bad is it? What do you do to help them? I know it's only a matter of time until one of my family or friends will get it, and they will all be looking to me for help. Thanks!
Best to remove any remaining tenacles on the skin by scraping with a credit card while rinsing with SEAWATER, don't use fresh! Then rinse with vinegar about 30 to 60 seconds to deactivate any venom that has not yet discharged. If it's a Portugese type, instead of vinegar ,making a paste of baking soda and seawater and applying to the area works well. After that, tolerable hot fresh water or calamine lotion, or lidocaine spray can help pain relief. Urine, alcohol, and meat tenderizer really are not effective treatments.
Ammonia is the acting chemical that neutralizes the jellyfish (Medusa) sting. Everyone has ammonia in their pee and most cleaning chemicals have it to (Windex).
Urine is high in nitrates, compounds high in nitrogen and oxygen. Ammonia is made up of nitrogen and hydrogen. (NH3) What you are smelling is the high concentration of bonded nitrogen.
Normally, diluted urine doesn't have much odor. If you're dehydrated and your urine becomes highly concentrated, it can have a strong ammonia smell.
In our urine, Ammonia acts as an absorber and leads to water absorption.
You can buy sunscreen with jellyfish sting protective lotion, at the local dive shop in AZ. Its called safe sea it $12.95 for 4 fl. oz's. I just bought 2 today for when we come down.
Ammonia is the acting chemical that neutralizes the jellyfish (Medusa) sting. Everyone has ammonia in their pee and most cleaning chemicals have it to (Windex).
Urine is high in nitrates, compounds high in nitrogen and oxygen. Ammonia is made up of nitrogen and hydrogen. (NH3) What you are smelling is the high concentration of bonded nitrogen.
Normally, diluted urine doesn't have much odor. If you're dehydrated and your urine becomes highly concentrated, it can have a strong ammonia smell.
In our urine, Ammonia acts as an absorber and leads to water absorption.
You can buy sunscreen with jellyfish sting protective lotion, at the local dive shop in AZ. Its called safe sea it $12.95 for 4 fl. oz's. I just bought 2 today for when we come down.
As a person who has had considerable training and internship in Poison Control Centers, I can tell you that there are no conclusive reasearch studies that have proved that urine or ammonia has any value whatsoever in relieving jellyfish stings. If fact, depending on the urine, it can actually make it worse. Urine contains so much fresh water, it will actually make any remaining nematocysts ( which contain the toxin that causes the discomfort) to fire, releasing more toxin. That's why we recommend using seawater only to rinse the area. Vinegar is 5% acetic acid,(CH3COOH) which has shown to neutralize unfired nematocysts so that they cannot further inject venom. Now, keep in mind, this is true for jellyfish stings, not the Portugese Man-O-War, a jellyfish look-a-like, but different creature. Some of our studies have shown vinegar to cause their nematocysts to release venom. That is why I recommend the baking soda/seawater paste instead. There is a product you may want to want to have with you called Jellyfish Squish spray. I keep a couple bottles in my casa just in case. It's good to use after the treatments above to help the pain and discomfort.
So take it from your friendly pharmacist and stay away from the urban legend treatments ( urine, windex, mono sodium glutamates, etc. And if you must have the urge to piss on the beach, do it to put out your campfire!
No need to panic, most minor stings can be self-treated without medical attention, however use common sense. If within 30 to 60 minutes, if anaphylaxic signs appear, by all means seek help. Those signs are severe swelling, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, drop in BP, swelling of the tongue or lips, etc. I would also recommend seeking medical attention if the sting area is very large in size, no matter if anaphylaxic signs are present or not.
Yeah I got hit by a ray back in 96 and I ended up there but i hear some people panic and drive back when all they have to do is go there for medical attention,
I agree with you most stings are minor and don't require a physicians aid.
Meanwhile it can help to cover as much exposed skin as possible with light clothing like scrubs during jellyfish season. I've heard, too, that there is a jellyfish toxin inhibitor jell that helps to block toxins from passing through the skin. Don't know about that first-hand, though.
Meanwhile it can help to cover as much exposed skin as possible with light clothing like scrubs during jellyfish season. I've heard, too, that there is a jellyfish toxin inhibitor jell that helps to block toxins from passing through the skin. Don't know about that first-hand, though.
I'm not that familiar with it or how effective it may be, but I believe it may be based on the same "slime" that gives clownfish their immunity from the sea anemone.