The Gulf of Mexico is inhabited by a diverse group of marine organisms and wildlife. The most common problems our beachgoers encounter involve jellyfish and stingrays.

Jellyfish
Jellyfish occur in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. All jellyfish are equipped with stinging cells - nematocysts which they use for defense and feeding. The tentacles of jellyfish contains thousands of these stinging cells and are activated when contact is made with another object i.e. swimmers.

The actual stinging involves the nematocyst firing a tiny barb into the victim along with injecting paralyzing toxins. Although not all jellyfish sting humans, the ones that do, usually leave welts and reddened skin with a rash-like looking appearance.

The affected area has a prickly or burning feel - some describe it as tiny electrical shocks going off on the skin.  If you are stung by a jellyfish don't rub or scratch it this only causes more stinging cells to fire and makes matters worse.

Seek a lifeguard for treatment. The treatment involves rinsing the affected area with household vinegar.

Symptoms and discomfort in most instances usually subside with in 15 to 20 minutes. Children have the most trouble with type of injury, being unable to tolerate the burning and stinging sensations. If you see a jellyfish washed up on the shoreline don't touch it, jellyfish can sting long after there're dead.

Stingrays
Stingrays are capable of inflicting a laceration or penetrating type of wound. The injury is serious and excruciatingly painful. Anyone who has suffered a stingray wound must take immediate and effective action in its treatment.

Although stingrays by nature are not aggressive creatures the problem arises when bathers unknowingly step on them. This happens close to the shoreline where stingrays tend to burrow in the sand; usually during the summer months when they are searching for food or mating. Because they are hidden in the sand bathers entering the water can't see them and consequently step on them. The stingray reacts by swinging their tail striking the bather with its barb causing a wound to the foot, ankle or lower leg.

The barb located 1/3 of the way down their tail happens to be quite a formidable weapon. Measuring up to 6 inches long with razor sharp serrated edges pointing in one direction. In addition to inflicting a penetrating wound the barb contains venom on its surface area.

It is this venom which causes the intense pain and discomfort and if not treated will spread up the leg and to the body. The pain starts almost instantaneously after receiving the injury and must be treated immediately.

The venom is heat labile; soaking the injured part in hot water will inactivate the venom and relieve the intense pain. The water should be as hot as one can stand it. Soaking the wounded area in hot water should be your first concern in treating this injury.

If you have a stingray accident your day at the beach will come to an abrupt end. Seek a lifeguard or if at an unguarded beach go directly to the nearest medical facility for treatment or someplace where you can get hot water.

If stingrays are present a blue flag will be flying from the lifeguard tower in addition to signs posted alerting you of the danger.

If you decide to go into the water when stingrays are present, shuffle or slide your feet along the bottom as you walk - commonly called doing the "stingray shuffle". This action alerts the stingray in advance and he will swim off out of your path.