Digger’s Dribble

The article you are about to read was taken from an article I read in a local fishing magazine. It is some very useful information that could possibly save your life, at the least make you a little more comfortable.

There ain’t a single one of us who ain’t got cut, poked, bit, er stabbed by sump’m in tha water. For us here it’s oyster bites. Here’s whatcha gotta know:

1. Catfish and stingrays are like tenth cousins. This being because they leave a barb behind. This causes local trauma and leads to envenomation (pyson) which will lead to an infection (ganky assed sore) if not tended to. The remedy for this pain and sufferin’ is to submerge the wound in hot water - not scaldin’ but as hot as you can take for between 30-90 minutes. This will denature the venom. If in the case of the barb of a stingray breaking off, you better go to the doctor or free clinic as quick as that pile of junk will get you there. If you see the barb you probably shouldn’t pull it out yerself (crikey mate).

2. Jellyfish ain’t got no good sense. They are like a sailboard left for high tide; they just drift around until someone grabs it or bumps into it. Anyway, they too have venom (pyson) that come from cells called cnidocytes, which are made up of mostly proteins and carbohydrates. The remedy - rinse the area with salt water (NOT FRESH WATER) that’ll just make the sufferin’ worse. Then get any of the tentacles off with either gloves, forceps, tweezers, or a stick if your near Wright. Then put plain old vinegar on it. You can also use meat tenderizer, diluted rubbing alcohol, baking soda, or lime juice to neutralize the venom. This sounds like a cure that you'd get off of HGTV. Also try to keep the area still as you can - it helps to prevent further spreadin, and watch for signs of shock. It can cause some folks to have a systemic reaction.

3. Sea Urchins, The motto is don’t tread on me. These pretty little spiny creatures hurt like hell when stepped upon. The pain doesn’t stop for about 40 days and 40 nights it seems. The remedy - immerse in water as hot as you can stand for between 30 and 90 minutes. Repeat if necessary. Use tweezers to remove spines (good luck). Then apply shaving cream and gently scrape with a razor to remove pedicellaria. Scrub the wound with soap and water and extensive flushing with fresh water. Do not close the wound with tape. Use a topical antibiotic if any signs of infection start to show.

4. Oysters are much better on a cracker with some Crystal’s than embedded in the bottom of your foot. The sad truth about oysters is that they harbor some of the absolute worst bacteria in the universe (so far, anyway). There really isn’t a whole lot you can do. Certainly you will want to flush out everything you can with fresh water. Then use an antibacterial soap to clean up the wound. You can do the epsom salt soaks. And you should apply a topical antibiotic and a dressing of some sort. All of us know that you will be throwing away at least 4 pairs of socks and grimacing every time you take a step on that foot. If the bleeding is profuse you will need to control that first. The health care folks I've talked with all say that antibiotics are usually prescribed when infections show. They also tell us we should keep our tetanus shots up to date.

5. Crab Bites - These are usually not fatal. The degree of discomfort is dependant upon the type crab, It ranges from bruises or minor bleeding to an annoying itch. The remedy is to stay away when possible, dumb-ass. Or don’t drink so much when choosing a date, dumb-ass. The pharmacy has something for the itchy ones.

With all of these remedies you can take pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and swelling. I usually take beer for the pain and the Tylenol and Advil for the hangover. Here’s hoping that you won’t need any of these remedies.