Stingrays
Bluntnose Stingray digging into sand
photo by Fritz Goro, Living Fishes o the World, p. 58
If a venomous ray stings your arm or leg, you will probably live, but if your abdomen is
injured by a venomous ray, your chances of surviving are not as good. In one case, a
12-year-old Mexican boy who was loading shrimp was stung in his abdomen by a
stingray. He died in less than 2 hours. The venom from a ray causes your heart to stop
beating or to beat irregularly. It also affects your breathing and central nervous system.
What You Should Do
Never walk barefoot in a sandy or muddy area where rays are likely to occur. Don't
dive headfirst into water in such areas. If you are skin diving, don't swim in a prone
(lying-down) position close to the bottom. If you are injured by a ray you should get
expert medical help as quickly as possible. In the meantime:
1. Rinse the wound thoroughly with fresh water. Use ocean water only if no fresh
water is available.
2. Cover the wound in water that is as hot as you can tolerate but not so hot that it
burns your skin (about 110 degrees Fahrenheit or 44 degrees Celsius). This should ease
the pain within about 30 to 90 minutes. You can repeat this if the pain comes back.
3. Carefully search for and remove any pieces of the stinger or its sheath
(protective covering). Scrub the injured area with soap and water. Then pour lots of
fresh water over it.
4. Do not tape or sew the wound closed unless this is needed to stop a lot of
bleeding.
5. If the wound shows signs of infection, you will need to take antibiotics. You may
also need a tetanus shot.
