"Do The Shuffle!" - shuffling walking in shallow beach water to warn stingrays and thus prevent sting injuries

Already doing the stingray shuffle or haven't quite heard of it? The "shuffle" is a method of walking along shallow beach water--shuffling your feet, kicking up sand--to warn stingrays that may be lurking on the sandy floor you're approaching. Although injuries from encounters with rays are relatively rare, a man in Florida almost lost his lower leg after stepping from his sailboat onto a stingray. He suffered a gash from the ray's tail and, a few days later, experienced what looked frighteningly similar to infections caused by "flesh eating" bacteria. While it wasn't the notorious streptococcal infection, it was another virulent bacteria, Vibrio damsela--known for causing stomach ills from eating raw shellfish and serious infections from seemingly minor accidents with fishhooks or fish cleaning.

Simply walking in shallow beach water can become a problem for someone accidentally cutting his/her foot on a seashell or exposing open cuts to brackish water. If a cut occurs while in the water, rinse immediately with fresh, purified water. The wound should then be carefully observed. If it becomes red, appears unhealthy or illness sets in, seek medical attention immediately.

--Gerard R. Barber, Rph, MPH

COPYRIGHT 2001 Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group