If you haven’t then consider yourself very lucky. Stingrays inflict a whole world of pain on their unfortunate victims, and the only treatment is to endure the gut churning pain, while soaking the injured limb in borderline scalding water.
Stingrays are everywhere in the United States
There are twenty-two different species of stingrays in the United States waters. They span from coast to coast, in bays and oceans, in brackish to salty waters and the only way to prevent a stingray strike would be to wear steel lined combat boots while swimming. Sure the ‘stingray shuffle’ works for most but eventually you will be stung if you spend most of your days at the bays and beaches we love so much. It is estimated that over 2,500 people will be stung in the United States this year.
I have been a lifeguard in Southern California for over ten years, and in that time, I have treated countless stingray victims. No one is safe. I have seen victims at every location imaginable and stings to pretty much everybody part, so pretty much if there is salt in the water there is a chance of getting stung by one of these pesky critters.
At lifeguard stations throughout the country the standard treatment is to soak the foot in hot water typically about 112 degrees or as hot as you can stand without burning the skin. However, there is great risk involved when you are treated at the lifeguard station. Lifeguards reuse the buckets for stingrays and these bloody buckets are supposed to be cleaned and ‘sterilized’ after each treatment. This doesn’t always happen and there have been some cases where people are infected with a serious blood borne diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C following a treatment by lifeguards. The buckets you soak your feet in at the lifeguard station have seen hundreds of bloody feet and all it takes is a little mistake by the cleaner of the bucket to seriously change your life. The only way to completely avoid accidental infection by something much worse than a stingray sting is to use a sterile single use stingray bag. The bag should be free standing when water is poured in so you’re not stuck holding it up while enduring the excruciating pain. The stingray bags that are sold here… are both free standing and insulated so you just need to add hot water and head straight home or to the hospital.
Why you need a stingray kit
Many remote beaches have no lifeguards and especially no access to hot water. At our lifeguard store we have patented a product for just that occasion. It is a safe chemical reaction kit that heats water on the go anywhere. Just add water.
Here is a list of beach and safety essentials put together by a professional lifeguard. To date, most of the “What to take to the beach?” lists say the same thing, that is why our lifeguards have come up with a comprehensive list we guarantee, you never thought of. And for your convenience, everything is easily found within our lifeguard store.
Prepare for Everything
1) Sting Rays
Every family needs to carry a Stingray Kit with them to the beach, which can be purchases at our lifeguard store. Lifeguards report hundreds of stingray stings all along the coast, thus are warning swimmers to beware of the stingrays when entering the water. Though sting rays are not aggressive, beachgoers are stung by accident more often than you can imagine. Stingray stings are one of the most common dive and beach-related injuries. And if you have ever experienced the sting, you know it needs to be taken care of immediately. The excruciating pain if left unattended will put down even the toughest individual for 6-8 hours.
What should you expect if stung?
The person feels an immediate, sharp, excruciating pain that peaks in 1-2 hours. The wound bleeds. The wounded area may become swollen and may turn blue or red. Lymph nodes may become swollen.
Serious symptoms:jo8
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
Chills
muscle cramps
tremors
paralysis
fainting
seizures
elevated heart rate
decreased blood pressure
Death may even occur, so fast action is needed. By using a Portable Ray RX Stingray Kit from our lifeguard store, you can stop symptoms before they start.
2) Drowning
Lifeguards always say, “Don’t drown your kids with standard heavy cotton t-shirts”, these tend to become heavy and bothersome while swimming. Instead we recommend Rashguards (Surf Shirts), they are light weight and breathable. Rashguards are used by lifeguards and the public against rashes caused by abrasions and nasty sunburns from extended exposure to the sun. Rashguards can be worn by themselves, or under a wetsuit.
3) Rashes
Combining sand, sun, and salt water with surfboards, life vests, or wetsuits create the perfect environment for beastly beach rash. Again, in the lifeguard store our Rashguards or surf shirts provide a barrier between the rash causing elements.
Our lifeguard store also has lower body rashguards. You can wear them under boardshorts, wetsuits or by themselves. At Original Watermen, we created the watermen short (our version of compressions shorts), where we offer a rash-free guarantee, as it is made with antimicrobial odor eliminating fabric.
4) Jelly Fish
Lifeguards deal with jelly fish stings daily. Jelly fish are unseen in the approaching wave; therefore, stings are a common. The tentacles trailing from the jellyfish body inject you with venom from small barbed stingers. Jellyfish stings vary greatly in severity. Getting stung results in immediate pain and red marks on the skin. Some jellyfish stings may cause illness and in rare cases jellyfish stings can cause death. Protection can be improved by putting on a rashguard life the ones we carry at our lifeguard store.
Jelly fish sting
First and foremost, seek emergency medical help if you feel you are having a severe allergic reaction, if the sting is from a box jellyfish or if the sting covers more than half an arm or leg.
What should you do once stung?
Get out of the water
Remove all tentacles by scraping the affected area with a credit card
Immerse the affected arm or leg immediately in hot water for at least twenty minutes
This is another instance where the sting ray kit from our lifeguard store can help, as it contains a self-contained heating system.
Rinse the area with vinegar for at least 30 seconds (If vinegar is not available make a paste of baking soda and water, and apply over the affected area)
5) Sun Danger
Of course, you need sun protection in and out of the water. At the lifeguard store we offer Solrx sunscreen. Solrx was voted best in its class, and lasts 8 hours with one single application, plus it stays on in the water. Solrx sunscreen is recommended by dermatologists and is both hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic.
Don’t forget your hats
We have a wide variety of hats in our lifeguard store. Not only do hats protect your face from the bad (UV) rays of the sun, but a hat also protects your eyes, ears and the top of your head from disease and skin cancer. Extended exposure to the sun’s UV rays has been linked to eye damage, including cataracts and macular degeneration.
How does the sun affect you?
UV rays radiate from the sun and come from many directions and are reflected from the ground, water, snow, sand and other bright surfaces. Sun damage to eyes occurs even on cloudy days as the sun’s rays pass through haze and thin clouds. Protect your eyes from UV rays by wearing a hat and sunglasses. In our lifeguard store, we have a quiver of hats, which offer you an array of options, for any day and any condition.
Now you have a complete list of essential equipment needed for a safe day at the beach, and all can be quickly found on our Original Watermen website and lifeguard store.
Lifeguards around the world, save more people from rip currents than any other ocean danger. Rip currents are the number one killer of beachgoers. Lifeguards perform over 70,000 ocean rescues per year and more than 80% of all lifeguard rescue attempts involve saving someone caught in a rip current. Rip currents claim over 100 victims a year in the USA alone. Lifeguards say more men than women drown in rip currents. During the last 3-day weekend lifeguards had nearly 3000 ocean rescues as massive crowds hit the beaches. With crowds that large parents must be their child’s number one lifeguard. Don’t just roll over and sleep expecting the lifeguard to babysit your child. The guards are watching hundreds of people in the water at the same time. As well lifeguards are dealing with non-water emergencies, like people stung by ray stings and in need assistance from lifeguard equipment such as a sting ray kit. Lifeguards are also dealing with complaints, answering questions and crowd control on top of rescues at the beach.
What exactly is a rip current?
Rip currents or Rips are sometimes called Rip tides, but this is a misnomer because tides play no role in causing these strong off-shore flowing currents. A rip is a strong, localized, and narrow current of water compared to a river running out to sea. The river current runs from shore to sea and can take you with it as it goes. Rips do not pull you under but they do pull you out into the water. Strong rip currents move at speeds of 3 to 8 feet per second. Rip currents can occur anywhere there are breaking waves, including large lakes. There are over 500 lifeguard rescues in the Great Lakes each year. Remember swimming where lifeguards are present can save your life
How to spot a rip current?
Recognizing rip currents can be difficult. Be on the lookout for a channel of churning, foaming, or choppy water where waves are struggling to form. Rip currents are a different color than the surrounding water, because they tend to pick up and stir up sand.
Most rip current deaths are avoidable. Most victims die because they panic, exhaust themselves or lack swimming skills. Lifeguards quickly react to a spotted victims by grabbing their lifeguard equipment essentials; swim fins and rescue tube while racing into the water. Victims that remain calm will more than likely survive. Remember, most rip current deaths happen when people choose to swim without a lifeguard present.
Be sure to heed warnings that are posted and issued by lifeguards. Lifeguards place flags on the beach alerting families of the dangers in the waters. Beware of Red flags. The flag system is just like a traffic light;
Green = Good to Go
Yellow = Caution
Red = Stop
Steps to take when caught in a rip current
Original Watermen, a lifeguard company created by lifeguards for lifeguards lists several steps to help you avoid disaster in an open water rip current. Think twice about entering the water, if you feel a strong pull on your legs in the shallow water. If you find yourself in a rip current, don’t panic. If you feel frightened and are on a beach with a lifeguard, wave your hands thus making yourself more visible. If you feel you are getting swept out to sea stay calm. If you don’t have the swimming skills or energy to swim parallel out of the rip, float on your back and go with the current until the lifeguard is able to come to your rescue. Don’t exhaust yourself by struggling to swim towards shore. The rip current usually disappears after the last set of waves. The lifeguard will bring proper lifeguard equipment with them to bring you safely back to the beach.
If no lifeguard is present we encourage you to ride the rip current until it dissipates and then swim at an angle away from it towards the shore or swim at an angle parallel to the beach in either direction until you feel the rip lighten up before heading back to shore. Rips can be so strong that not even professional swimmers can swim against them. Rip currents are typically only 20-100 feet wide.
Original Watermen Lifeguards have saved hundreds of victims with equipment from our lifeguard store, from rip currents because they are top notch guards using the best open water safety lifeguard equipment on the market.
Some of the earliest known lifeguard equipment has been around since the early 1900s. One of the most staple pieces of lifeguard equipment, the lifeguard rescue tube or can is a piece that in 1919 was called the Walters Torpedo buoy. It was named after its inventor, Henry Walters, a member of the Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps.
Lifeguard Rescue Tubes/Cans/Buoys
Lifeguard rescue tubes sometimes call rescue cans or buoys are flotation devices that make water rescues easier. The essential marine rescue tube supports both the victim and rescuers weight during the rescue. Lifeguards are required to have their rescue tube within arms distance at all times. In an emergency, the lifeguard will grab their rescue tube and their rescue fins as they run to assist the victim.
No doubt the lifeguard rescue tube is one of the most famous pieces of lifeguard. The lifeguard rescue tube was used during World War II by the Germans. These rescue tubes or cans were scattered and tossed into the English Channel for downed Luftwaffe flyers. These rescue tubes saved many German airmen. The rescue tube has been modified over the years. It was redesigned back in 1960 and has been the fundamental lifesaving tool for conscious multiple victim rescues ever since. The rescue tubes are still the number one piece of lifeguard equipment used throughout the world.
Lifeguard Fins
Doubtful a day goes by that you see a lifeguard without this piece of lifeguard equipment; lifeguard fins are designed for greater propulsion through the water with minimal effort. Leonardo da Vinci was a true Watermen and thought the human feet were too small to be useful in water so toyed with the idea of a swim fin. But it was Benjamin Franklin who made a pair of wooden hand fins as a young boy. In 1914 the modern swim fins were invented by a Frenchmen Louis de Corlieu, a Lieutenant Commander in the French Navy. After leaving the Navy in 1924 he spent the next 9 years developing and perfecting two fins for the feet and two spoon shaped fins for the hands. He patented these two unique fins and when translated from French the fins were called, swimming and rescue propulsion devices.
The present day legendary fin is now constructed and shaped for maximum surf performance from dual density rubber with a soft rubber foot pocket and a stiff blade. Lifeguard rescue fins are non-marking and full-floating, and are hydro-dynamically designed for greater propulsion. Lifeguard fins typically have a shorter blade, grip for jetty rescues and floats well. Lifeguards have been known to run in deep sand with this fin. Duck Feet lifeguard fins are also highly acclaimed and a coveted fin since its inception from SEALS to the seasoned beach lifeguards.
Our favorite lifeguard swim fin here at Original Watermen is Da Fins lifeguard swim fin. It is one of the best fins for all beach lifeguard agencies. These fins will actually float and wash in, if lost in the water. Da Fins Work well with jetty rescues and cobble hopping.
Lifeguard Backboards
Finally, probably the most evolved piece of lifeguard equipment is the rescue lifeguard backboard. Its beginning in 1979 has progressed from a slab of wood with sinew leather straps to secure the injured victim, to a heavy-duty polyethylene shell, that is x-ray translucent. The early rescue backboards, or sometimes called spine boards were constructed of cheap, poorly sealed, porous wood. The inexpensive sheets of plywood also absorbed fluids, so with the rise of HIV and other infectious diseases, plastic and aluminum three-part composite boards were created.
Is your lifeguard equipment outdated and of poor or unacceptable quality? Or is your lifeguard equipment in need of replacement? If you answered yes to either of those questions, take some time to visit our lifeguard store, and update your lifeguard equipment. At Original Watermen, we carry everything you need, as we were created by lifeguards, for lifeguards.
Lifeguards throughout the world work in the sun, sand, and water with little protection from the harmful effects of the sun. 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV rays) from the Sun. In just the USA over 5.4 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are treated yearly. Over the past three decades’ skin cancer has been more common than the combined incidences of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer. That said, Lifeguards need more protection than most, and at Original Watermen, we offer many options in our lifeguard store to keep your skin safe.
Melanomas can be attributed to exposure to the radiation from the Sun. One in five Americans dies of melanoma cancer every hour. A Lifeguard’s risk for melanoma doubles if they receive more than 5 sunburns. Using a great sunscreen like using SolRX, sold in our lifeguard store reduces your risk of developing skin cancer by 40 – 50%
Sunscreen isn’t always enough protection. Exposure to doses of ultraviolet radiation is carcinogenic to humans. UV rays cannot be felt nor seen. Sunburns are not related to temperature. Lifeguards and Jr. Lifeguards can get sunburned even on cool and cloudy days. That is why we not only make our Lifeguard Rash guards light weight for quick drying, but they also protect you from those harmful rays of the sun. Check out our Lifeguard rash guards that have a UPF of 50 at our Lifeguard store.
Life guards can easily spend 15 hours a day in the sun and they depend on swimwear built with state-of-the-art material. They need swimsuits, board shorts and lifeguard rash guards that can hold up to the demands of the trade. Moisture–wicking, chlorine proof and comfort are important, but UV rays can pass through loosely woven material. Your Lifeguard board shorts or swimsuits need to be made from a tightly woven durable fabric with a UPF of 50+ found at the Watermen Lifeguard Store.
Ultraviolet radiation (UV Rays) can bounce off reflective surfaces such as sand, water and concrete and are not only damaging to your skin but to your eyes. UV rays have been linked to macular degeneration, pterygia and other harmful eye damaging diseases. Sunglasses that block 100 percent of UV rays and also absorb most HEV rays can be somewhat prevent sun damage to the eyes. Make sure your sunglasses are tight fitting and are a wrap around style.
Hats also provide both eye protection and face protection from the sun. When the skin on the ear is exposed year after year to the sun, basal cell cancer can develop and spread to the bones. At our Lifeguard store we sell the Tonga hat with its wide brim covers the ears protecting lifeguards from the UV rays. The Tonga hat not only floats but the chin strap and cord lock help keep the hat on in those windy days. We also carry the La Palapa hat at our Lifeguard store. It originated back in the 1960’s by California beach guards.This hat is a must for those long days exposed to the sun.
Though exposure to the Sun is harmful if you don’t use protection it is the best natural source of vitamin D.
Beach lifeguards and Open Water rescuers need to be aware of the dangerous effects of the sun. So, take a minute to view our selection of protection from UV dangers are found at the Original Watermen Lifeguard store.
Humans spend billions of hours in the water, specifically the ocean. One of everyone’s biggest fear is to be attacked by a shark. Yet in 2016 there were only 4 fatalities resulting from unprovoked shark attacks worldwide and 0 fatalities in the United States. Stingrays, a cousin of the shark, on the other hand, have reeked more havoc in just two days, then sharks have in the past 10 years. Lifeguards have had their hands full supplying string ray kits to the victims.
Background on Sting Rays
Stingrays are found in warmer coastal tropical and subtropical waters throughout the world. They are docile creatures and only attack in self defense. Beachgoers of all ages accidentally step on the stingray partially buried in the sand and the frightened fish flips up its tails and stabs the unaware victim. Contact with the stinger causes local trauma, the cut itself causes pain, the venom causes swelling and muscle cramps. Infection from bacteria or fungi may happen later.
Facts on Deaths and Injuries by String Rays
Only 17 people have ever been killed by stingray since 1890. The most mainstream attack was to Steve Irwin known as a Crocodile Hunter on Discovery Channel in 2006. The barb penetrated his thoracic wall causing massive trauma resulting in his tragic death.
Experts assisted by lifeguard’s statements report there are 1500 sting ray injuries every year in the USA. Southern California already had hundreds of stingray attacks this past weekend alone. Sadly, three people were sent to the hospital, because they were having trouble breathing after being stabbed by the ray’s barbed tails. These stingrays might be small, but their barbs pack a punch.
Number of String Rays in Southern California is Growing
Southern California has been saturated with recent stingray injuries. The lifeguard units from Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, La Jolla and Coronado have been reporting a highly unusual surge of stingray injuries, and a growing number of shark sightings in their areas. Lt. Claude Hannah’s of Huntington Beach Marina Safety says, “There must be hundreds of thousands of stingrays out there.” According to different sources, the unusual numbers of stingrays and sharks in this area is a very strange phenomenon, though they disagree on why they are out there in such huge quantities. Regardless of the reason, it is vital to point out that lifeguards are doing a great job warning people by using signage, and reaching out via social media with warnings of when to stay out of the water.
What to Expect if Stung?
Though most stingray injuries aren’t serious, there is always the potential of a severe allergic reactions. That said, always use discretion when going into the water, and as any good lifeguard will tell you, always shuffle your feet in the sand. Stingrays are hard to spot because they cover themselves with sand. Low tide in the afternoon is the worst time of day to be playing in the shallow water at the beach.
90% of the people that are stung by a string ray are stung on the legs or the foot. The stingray’s barb is whipped into the unsuspecting victim, producing a deep puncture wound. The barb usually breaks off in the wound and infects it. So, it is important to have the injury checked out by a lifeguard immediately after it happens. Sometimes surgery may be required to remove the barb fragments. If you get hit, immediately see a lifeguard and get a sting ray kit. Time is of the essence. The injury is very painful but is seldom life-threatening unless the stinger pierces a vital area. Always follow up with a doctor.
Sting Ray Kits
What can you do if you aren’t in the location of a lifeguard? At Original Watermen, we sell Lifeguard approved Sting Ray Kits that you can carry with you to the beach. Don’t get caught unprepared! Get your foot immediately into hot water before the toxins kick in with full potency. If you don’t catch it in time, you or your child will have 4 to 6 hours of searing pain as the sting runs its course. This can all be avoided by caring stingray kits for each person in your family. And if you don’t have a kit remember to immediately locate the nearest lifeguard or lifeguard station for help.
Lifeguards around the world, save more people from rip currents than any other ocean danger. Rip currents are the number one killer of beachgoers. Lifeguards perform over 70,000 ocean rescues per year and more than 80% of all lifeguard rescue attempts involve saving someone caught in a rip current. Rip currents claim over 100 victims a year in the USA alone. Lifeguards say more men than women drown in rip currents. During the last 3-day weekend lifeguards had nearly 3000 ocean rescues as massive crowds hit the beaches. With crowds that large parents must be their child’s number one lifeguard. Don’t just roll over and sleep expecting the lifeguard to babysit your child. The guards are watching hundreds of people in the water at the same time. As well lifeguards are dealing with non-water emergencies, like people stung by ray stings and in need assistance from lifeguard equipment such as a 
