Swelling, discoloration
Nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps (severe reactions)
What to do:
Remove any visible barb (if easily accessible – don’t dig).
Clean the wound with soap and water.
Control bleeding with direct pressure.
Seek medical attention (stingray wounds are prone to infection, and the barb may leave fragments).
Pro tip: Do the “stingray shuffle” – slide your feet along the sandy bottom instead of lifting and stepping. This alerts stingrays to your presence, and they’ll swim away rather than being stepped on.
3. Sea Lice (Tiny Terrors)
Sea lice aren’t actually lice. They’re the larvae of certain jellyfish and sea anemones. They’re nearly invisible, but they pack a punch.
Symptoms of sea lice “stings”:
Intense itching and redness
Small, raised welts (often under swimsuit areas – because the larvae get trapped between fabric and skin)Swimwear
Rash appears hours after leaving the water
What to do:
Shower immediately after leaving the water (rinse off larvae before they sting).
