Anonymous
Source: Santa Barbara County Cottage Hospital
Crowds flocking to beaches and trails over Independence Day weekend should be on the lookout for these other sun seekers: sting rays and snakes.
Cottage Health hospitals in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley have tips to avoid painful encounters with these creatures in our local recreation areas.
Stingrays
Stingrays like the shallow, warm waters of South Coast beaches. They are not easily seen, so it’s best to slowly shuffle your feet in the water to avoid stepping on them. If you get stung by a stingray, soak the injured area in water as hot as you can stand for 60 to 90 minutes, and seek medical help right away. After soaking, keep the wound clean and dry.
Snakes
Snakes can hide in tall grass, weeds and underbrush. It’s best to stay on clear trails and avoid walking barefoot in wilderness areas. Don’t camp near swamps or streams. If you see a snake, slowly back away. If a snake bites you, seek medical help immediately. Stay calm and keep the bite area below the heart to prevent the venom from spreading.
Do not touch or wrap or the area, and do not put any ointments onto the bite. Also, do not take aspirin as it can make the bleeding worse.
To see all of our summer tips, visit cottagehealth.org/summertips.
One day last week, a group of young children, obviously some school or summer camp group, was gathered around looking at a snake which was snaking along in the low grass near a Goleta creek. The teacher was telling the kids to look, not touch. The one young boy kindly informed me, “It’s a Gardener snake.” That really made me smile. “Garter,” I replied. “I know it sounds like ‘Gardener,’ but it’s ‘Garter.'”
Re:headline
How about including some tips to avoid the stingrays and rattlesnakes while indoors?
Stingrays: Don’t bring in that brand of bike. Snakes: Don’t watch them on TV, allow them to bring whatever they’re selling into the house or date them.