Stingrays Wreak Havoc In Seal Beach

SEAL BEACH, CA —Stingrays swimming in shallow water stung multiple beach-goers over the weekend, the Seal Beach Marine Safety Office reported.

"The past three days we've had 57 stingray injuries that we've treated at lifeguard headquarters accounting for a mile of beachfront," Seal Beach Marine Safety officer Nick Bolin told Patch.

Warmer weather, low tides, and smaller surf size go hand in hand with the stingray activity.

"When the weather is good, and large crowds are at the beach, people get stung," Bolin said. The barbs from the stingray are coated in a venom, which is released--usually into the foot--when a person steps on one of the creatures.

Each year, Seal Beach sees about 450 stingray injuries.

This weekend, a few thousand people were out on the shore, accounting for a large number of injured victims.

The weather was warmer weather, the sun was out, and with dense crowds, Seal Beach saw over 10-percent of their annual estimated stingray injuries in one weekend, according to Bolin.

But what is it like getting stung?

"If you step on a stingray the tail flips up causing the stinger, or barb, to hit and puncture your foot or ankle," he said. "It's a small puncture wound, where the venom goes into the foot, similar to the bee sting."

Unlike a bee sting, the stinger remains on the stingray. The victim will feel a sudden stinging in their foot or ankle, followed by a throbbing.

Lifeguards can see who is injured, and often people will limp out of the water, and signal a lifeguard.

The remedy is to bring them back to headquarters, soak their foot in a bucket of hot water, as hot as they can stand, which breaks down the toxin and ultimately relieves pain.

"The whole time from injury to being released takes about 30-minutes, on average," Bolin said. Patients are then checked for vital signs and stability, before being released to own care.

To avoid stingray injury?

"Do the stingray shuffle," he advised. Shuffle your feet along the sand in low surf.

This weekend, a swell is on the way, and higher tides, which should keep the stingrays at bay. When in doubt if the stingrays are out?

Ask a lifeguard.

@SDLifeguards want you know that there are many stingrays in shallow water today, at all beaches. Getting stung is no fun! Shuffle your feet in the sand to avoid the painful injury. Already today we have treated a couple dozen people. pic.twitter.com/wXWRbCuG15
— San Diego Lifeguards (@SDLifeguards) June" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/SDLifeguar... 30, 2019