'Dangerous Marine Life' Warning at Honeymoon Island

Purple warning flags are up at Honeymoon Island, marking the beginning of stingray season.

The season, which traditionally runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year, may be off to a late start because the water was cold for so long, officials say. But as the water starts to warm, stingrays aren't far behind, officials say. 

To prevent sting injuries, beachgoers from Clearwater Beach to Honeymoon Island and Fort De Soto, are encouraged to shuffle their feet as they head into the water, which scares the flat, barb-tailed fish away. 

If stung, officials recommend leaving the water immediately and calling 911 so EMS can evaluate the sting and the person for an allergic reaction. A severe reaction can be deadly. 

People suffering from an allergic reaction may experience a drop in blood pressure, swelling and shortness of breath. Passing out in the water, could lead to drowning, so it is advised to leave the water immediately after being stung.

At the very least, officials recommend putting the affected area in warm to hot water and seeking medical attention at a nearby emergency room or walk-in clinic. 

What to know about stingrays before heading to the beach:

• Do the stingray shuffle: When getting into the water, shuffle your feet forward, one at a time. Do not step or stomp down into the sand. By shuffling your feet, you create vibrations and kick up sand to alert nearby stingrays that you are there.
• You can go one step further and use a stick to poke around you and help scare away stingrays. 
• Stingrays usually travel together. If you see one, there may be several in the area.
• Stingrays are not aggressive. They sting because they feel threatened; it's a defensive maneuver. Most injuries are minor.
• When stung, the stingrays inject a protein-based venom that will cause pain near the wound. While it can be very painful, it's rarely deadly. The toxicity of the venom does not vary for age.

How do you know if you've been stung?

• If you step on or alarm a stingray, they whip their tail around their body and a stinger lashes out and cuts or pierces you. The stinger then injects venom. 
• Officials say the pain from the venom increases about 30 minutes after the sting and it peaks around one hour from venom injection. You may feel shooting pain.
• Other symptoms include: swelling, bleeding at point of injury, headache, nausea, vomiting and weakness.
• If the stinger breaks off, you will feel more pain from the "object", that will have to be removed by medical staff.

What to do if you’re stung:

• Remove any clothing from the affected area.
• Do not put ice on the wound. The venom injected by the animal is a "heat-seeking" toxin. Meaning, it originates from the wound and moves up your body toward areas of heat, such as your abdomen and stomach. If you put ice on the wound, it only causes the venom to circulate faster.
• Treat the wound by placing your foot or leg in a bucket of very warm or hot water. The water will draw the venom out of your body and alleviate the pain. It's suggested to leave your foot in hot or very warm water for at least one to three hours. If you don't seek medical attention right away, you should still see have the wound checked out by a doctor soon after the sting.
• Once you've made it to a hospital or emergency room, officials will take an X-ray of the wound to make sure the barb or shards of the barb are not stuck. 
• If you are not up-to-date on your tetanus vaccination, you may need a shot. The vaccine will prevent tetanus infection.

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