still more on stingrays

[Tabi Alonso]

On 22/10/06 06:00, "trauma-list-request at trauma.org"
<trauma-list-request at trauma.org> wrote:

> Re: Stingray again
> 
> I respect your brother thoughts, but in Venezuela where the accidents are
> Advice: if you go to a river with Stingrays and soft sand you better slide
> your feet in the sand  instead of stepping over the sand. Learned when
> living in the Amazon forest.
> Regards
> Manuel Sotelo MD

More on stingrays and some USA navy secrets;
Here in mexican coasts we also have stingrays, and specially on the sandy
beaches where people bathe and play there are many "accidents"

Just like you mention we have learned to slide and swim better than stepping
on an unsuspecting ray that will be very startled!
All the abstracts mentioned say that the course of tratmente should be
asepsia-antisepsia-antibiotics.

Well, to make it short... The USA navy in days long gone by devised a
treatment, hot water. Works excellent as it deactivates the venom.
Wash the wound and afterwards place the limb (as it´s usually a foot) in
warer as hot as the patient can stand for no less than 30 mintes.

Some monitoring after that is all that´s required, pain will almost
disappear as well as the resto of the simptoms.
Hope this will help someone.

Tabi Alonso
EMT I
Red Cross
Mexico