Thread: West Pass stingray

Friend was stuck by a sting ray? Any suggestions on how to treat?

this may sound insane but i've heard somewhere you could hit the sting with a blunt object. such as a sandal or whatever you had on site maybe a fishing pole? and the poison is said to squirt out of the wound almost instantaneously.

http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...pass-stingray/

I would in most cases, especially if insured, go ahead and have a Doctor look at it and thoroughly clean it out.
Many times, some of the hundreds of small barbs lining the side of the main barb, break off.
These is a sure recipe for infection if not removed... Cleaning the wound out completely is paramount.

If you must treat at remote location/home, I'd do as much of the following as possible.
1. Remove barb (duh), if left in wound.
2. Thoroughly clean it out, all remnants of barb and all of the nasty, bacteria ridden slime which covers the barb flushed out.
Let it bleed, make it bleed, this naturally flushes the wound. Squeeze from inside to the outside of the wound. Now flush it out more with water and a disinfectant.
3. Hot water, as hot as it can be tolerated for 2 hours, without causing more harm via burns.
The heat breaks down the toxins and brings much relief.
4. Apply topical antibiotic, bandage, elevate, ice and Ibuprofen.
5. Any signs of allergic reaction or infection, go to hospital and/or call 911.
Tightness in the chest, swelling of the face, difficulty breathing, welts/hives anywhere on your body, nausea, fever, cramps and/or re-occurring severe pain/swelling/pus at wound site.

[quote author=PriusMan link=topic=1643.msg15609#msg15609 date=1342939362]
this may sound insane but i've heard somewhere you could hit the sting with a blunt object. such as a sandal or whatever you had on site maybe a fishing pole? and the poison is said to squirt out of the wound almost instantaneously.
[/quote]That doesn't sound insane, just stupid.

I agree with Chile on seeing a medical professional---those thing are really bad to infect, along with catfish fin punctures.

Actually, I've heard about the theory of pounding the devil out of a puncture wound. It's supposed to make the wound bleed and flush out debris, etc. Don't think I'd put much faith in the procedure.

I suspect the only thing it would do is cause the afflicted one to curse very loudly. And, perhaps, damage the flesh more than it already is.