We love seeing stingrays in their natural environment – their graceful bodies and friendly faces belie the fact that they are actually dangerous animals we should treat with respect. While some members of the ray family, including Manta Rays, have no venom, others, including all species commonly known by the moniker “stingray” carry a sting that has lethal potential. Here, we’ll take a look at the mechanics of a stingray accident, plus we’ll discuss methods for preventing and treating stingray envenomation.
Stingray Accidents
Stingray accidents vary greatly, depending not just on the size of the ray, but on the severity of contact. In most cases, a little pain and suffering result; in others, death occurs. The good news is that stingray accidents are, for the most part, preventable. The bad news is that it takes just a small error in judgment to cause an accident to occur. Stingrays do not normally attack aggressively, nor do they tend to defend themselves; instead, they simply swim away when feeling threatened. When attacked by a predator, or if stepped on, the ray’s tail whips up as a reflexive defense mechanism. Most accidents happen because people step on rays or grab them; if you accidentally brush against a ray, then you may be spared.
The best way to avoid stepping on a stingray is to shuffle your feet along the bottom when entering the water from a beach. If you do end up stepping on a stingray, you’ll likely end up with the barb hooked in your flesh, and you will need to seek first aid.
Treating Stingray Envenomation Injuries
A stingray’s barb is covered with rows of flat, sharp spines with venom-secreting cells underneath. Physical symptoms include nausea and vomiting, extreme pain at the site of the wound, and diarrhea as the body attempts to purge itself of the toxins.
In some cases, victims bleed profusely, and in some severe cases, embedded spines have become infected, necessitating amputation and sometimes even causing death. Usually, good emergency care prevents problems from worsening.
Begin by soaking the affected area in hot water, which can help to denature the venom. In cases where the sting is embedded and treatment may be delayed, you may be treated with antibiotics to prevent infection, and with local anesthetic to help alleviate the pain. This does depend on what kind of emergency resources are available – if you have been stung and have no way to treat yourself appropriately, start making your way to the nearest medical facility.
All stingray wounds, even minor ones, need to be medically assessed as soon as possible. In many cases, barb fragments remain and surgical removal is necessary.
As with many types of dive accidents, prevention is the best medicine when it comes to stingray accidents. Learning about the rays in areas where you will be diving can be helpful, and always maintaining a respectful distance when in their environment will help ensure you don’t accidentally cause a stingray to feel threatened and harm you in self-defense.