Coexisting With Beach Denizens

When frequenting local beaches, there’s a philosophy that can help people peacefully coexist with jellyfish and stingrays.

“The only problem is that they’re the residents, and the visitors are the ones who are encroaching,” said Andy O’Leary, director of marine safety for Solana Beach.

With that in mind, to avoid stepping on a stingray, waders should shuffle their feet through the sand rather than running or striding in shallow water, said John Schooler, a Del Mar lifeguard.

Normally, the commotion will cause a stingray to quickly swim away to a less-populated spot, Schooler said.

“With jellyfish, there’s not a lot you can do other than look for them,” Schooler said.

If a swimmer does get stung, there are simple remedies available at the nearest lifeguard tower.

Nothing takes the sting out of a stingray sting like soaking the wound in hot water for 30 to 45 minutes, Schooler said.

And, for jellyfish stings, it’s best to treat the affected area with either rubbing alcohol or a mixture of equal parts of ammonia and cold water, said Chappy Mico, a Mission Beach lifeguard.

Pour the solution over the wound rather than rubbing it in; rubbing or scratching a jellyfish sting will cause the poison to spread, said Rodney Ferrif, an Oceanside lifeguard.

And, if alcohol and ammonia aren’t available, vinegar and water can be used as a substitute, Schooler said.

Although neither type of sting is usually very serious, some cases might require more extensive medical attention, Mico said.

“People who are allergic to bee stings are allergic to stingrays as well,” Mico said.

As with other types of open wounds, stingray victims need to make sure the injury doesn’t become infected, said Robert Snodgrass, associate aquarium curator at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.