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Payoyo Rea Joy O.

Grp 41-a

STINGRAY INJURIES,

About stingrays

The stingrays are unique aquarium fish. They are found both in the saltwater and
freshwater sections of aquarium shops and make unusual, appealing and fascinating
additions to any large aquarium. Rays are members of the Class Chondrichthyes, or
cartilaginous fish. There isn't a bone in their bodies; their skeletons are all cartilage!
Their tails are often almost twice as long as their bodies .

The stingray is non-aggressive, but is capable of protecting itself. Treading on the


dorsal surface by mistake or swimming too close above a ray can result in a reflex
upward and forward swing of the tail. The injuries can be either a sword like lacerations
or penetrating injuries with the serrated spine. Serious injury can either be from the
physical trauma of a vital body part, from the venom of the spine or both.

Stingrays are the largest of the venomous fish, and there are many species in the
Australian coastal waters. The tail of the stingray carries at least one barb or spine that
may be up to 37 cm long. The barbs are cartilaginous and retroserrate, and covered by
a film of venom and mucous contained within an integumentary sheath. Two
longitudinal ventrolateral grooves contain venom secreting glands. Stingrays usually lie
in the sand on the seabed. When disturbed by pressure over the dorsum of the body,
the tail is thrust upward and forward, driving the barb in to the victim. Rupture of the
integumentary sheath on penetration allows the venom to be released.

About stingray injury

Stingray injury has two aspects: 1) immediate physical trauma from the powerful
penetrating action of the spine, and 2) envenomation at the site of the wound with the
contents of the ray's integumentary sheath. Although venom is not always deposited
during a ``sting incident," these two insults often work in dangerous synchrony.

Stingray injuries are very commonly seen in Florida during the summer months. This is
because they like to rest on the bottom in shallow water, exactly where people like to
play. Stingray injuries are extremely painful. The stingray has a sharp barb on top of his
tail, a few inches from the body. The tail in the above photo may look stiff, but it is very
flexible. When stepped on, the stingray whips the tail over his back like a scorpion and
jabs the offending creature. It is purely a defensive maneuver. Stingrays do not “attack”
people.
As I mentioned, an injury from a stingray is very painful because the barb is covered
with a venom-containing sheath that releases venom into the wound. Wearing shoes is
not enough to protect against a stingray—the ray’s sharp barb will easily penetrate a
shoe. A larger ray may have a long enough tail to reach your ankle or calf. A very
largeray could effortlessly drive a barb right through your leg.

Here are some reasons why you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

• Stingrays have venom on their barb that can cause a “drastic decrease in
blood pressure, increased pulse, dizziness and possible shock.” If the
victim loses consciousness, you need to call 911.
• The barb may break off in the wound. In this case, it must be removed by a
doctor. In any case, the wound will need to be cleaned to avoid infection and
gangrene. The victim may also need a tetanus shot.
• If the wound is bleeding profusely, an artery may have been severed. This is an
emergency.
• Any stingray injury to a part of the body other than arms and legs is a
very serious injury and requires immediate medical attention. This
would include a puncture of the abdomen or chest. This type of
injury could easily result in death.

THE NATURE OF STINGRAY INJURIES

Stingrays are bottom dwellers, so that their flat body is often submerged in sand and
only detectable by an eye or two, a piece of tail or the spiracles (water intakes) showing
above the elevated disk or mud. Usually shallow water creatures they have been found
in tropical waters at 30 to 60 metres. At up to 2 metres across and 4 metres long, a 2
ton ray is an impressive creature. Manta often jump out of the water and have
occasionally damaged fishing boats. Stingrays feed on a variety of shellfish, molluscs,
crustaceans and worms. The one or more spines are used for defence.

DISCUSSION

The venom contains toxic proteins. The effects of the venom may be local and/or
systemic. Local effects include severe pain at the site of injury and tissue necrosis.
Systemic effects include nausea, vomiting, salivation, sweating, respiratory depression,
muscle fasciculation, convulsions, cramping abdominal pain, cardiac arrhythmia,
myocardial ischaemia and, rarely, death. Many of the systemic effects have been
documented only in patients with viscus penetration (gut), and not in those with
peripheral stingray injuries.
MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR STINGRAY INJURIES

 Immersion of the affected part in hot water (about 45C) for at least 30 minutes for
pain relief (relief is generally only effective while the affected part remains immersed).
 X-ray of the affected body part to exclude the presence of cartilaginous barb
remnants.
 Local infiltration of local anaesthetic.
 Systemic analgesia.
 Careful wound examination, removal of foreign material, irrigation and debridement.
 Heal by secondary intention (not closing the wound and allow to close from bottom
up).
 Antibiotic cover, broad spectrum.
 Tetanus booster if required.
 Early referral of confirmed or suspected penetrating injuries of chest or abdomen.

Proper precaution

Pay attention to posted warning signs, especially if you're the first one in the water.

Do the shuffle. Because stingrays settle into the sand, they're difficult to spot even
in clear water. Instead of stepping, shuffle your feet forward to avoid stepping
directly on a stingray and provoking a reaction.

Keep from swimming near jetties and piers where stingrays gather. Although
stingrays aren't aggressive, you may accidentally corner one and provoke a strike
from the instinctive tail flip.

Stay clear from the ocean floor when snorkeling or diving. If a stingray feels
threatened, the tail will strike because this is the ray's natural protection. Stingrays
may allow swimmers to approach closely but then react without warning.

Avoid swimming over a moving stingray. While snorkeling at Batt Reef off
Queensland, Australia, Steve Irwin, the wildlife expert, swam over a large stingray
and was fatally stung in the chest. Although death by stingray attack is rare, even a
small barb in the foot is painful.

Wear protective waders when fishing. However, most water shoes provide minimal
protection because a stingray's tail barb can easily pierce the water shoe's mesh
fabric.
COMMENTS:

It is very important to use the informations about stingray to keep yourself and
your family safe while you are enjoying beaches and waterways. and use proper
precautions so that everyone of us can safely appreciate the graceful beauty of
stingrays up close. But
people just need to remember that stingrays have long, whiplike tails with one or more
razor-sharp, serrated barbs, which they use for defense. Stingrays only flick their barbs
upwards in an involuntary reflex action if they feel threatened, as a defensive measure
when it is caught, stepped on or otherwise disturbed. As I mentioned a while ago.
Stingrays actually do not attack people. Its just a defensive maneuver .

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