If you’ve had the wound for a while but are slow to recover, you experience redness or additional swelling at the site, or the site begins to ooze pus, get treatment right away. If you have a puncture wound and aren’t up to date on your tetanus booster, it’s time to get it renewed. Some people have died as a result of stings in their chests and abdomens. It’s possible for the heart to stop or for the body to go into shock after a stingray sting. The following symptoms could be signs of a systemic reaction or respiratory distress and require immediate emergency medical care: painful, swollen lymph nodes near the site.If you’re stung by a stingray, you may experience these symptoms: What are the symptoms of a stingray sting? Once you’ve relieved the pain, apply antibiotic ointment or cream to the wound and cover it with gauze. The hot water may also draw out venom, which resembles jelly. Reheat your water every 10 minutes to keep it continually hot, and soak the wound for 30 to 90 minutes, or as long as it takes for the pain to subside. The ideal temperature for a soak is 110☏ to 115☏ (43☌ to 46☌). Once you’ve determined you’re not having an allergic reaction, you might want to try soaking the sting in hot water (although some sources state there is no evidence that soaking is effective). Lucky Florida photographer Rusty Escandell got the snap of a lifetime on Sunday when a mammoth manta ray more than 8 feet long jumped out of the water and photobombed a surfer. Hot water kills stingray venom and may relieve the pain associated with the sting. It’s possible to have a life-threatening allergic reaction to stingray venom, which requires emergency medical care. Pay close attention to how you feel in the sting’s aftermath. Try to clear out any additional debris you might see in the cut or puncture while you’re still in the water. Allow the salt water to clean the wound while applying pressure over it to both slow the bleeding and encourage the venom to come out.
Otherwise, remain in the ocean and pull the barb out if you can. Seek emergency medical attention immediately.
If the barb has punctured your throat, neck, abdomen, or chest, or has pierced completely through part of your body, don’t attempt to remove it. You need to begin treating the wound right away if it’s superficial. When stung by a stingray, you’ll feel immediate, severe pain at the wound site.