What do you do if you get stung?If you get stung, you'll know it.
Sometimes it feels like a bee sting and some times it feels like an electric shock! At first it may not hurt to bad, but after a little time, it will really start to hurt. Get the injured area into HOT WATER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Most life guard towers here in California are set up to treat a stingray sting with hot water. If you can't find a life guard tower, get home ASAP. (I drove home one time.....big mistake. By the time I got home (about 45 miniutes after getting stung, the pain was unbelievable!!!) If the stinger is still in you, you might want to go to the emergency room to have it removed. The area can get seriously infected. After soaking for an hour or so you should start to feel better. The area may still be sore for a couple of days. Again, watch for infections! |
Sting Ray Station
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How do I avoid geting stung?There are two ways to avoid getting stung by a sting ray!
1. Don't go into the water. (No guts, no glory) 2. Do the sting ray shuffle. Don't pick up your feet while walking in the water. Just shuffle your feet! Then every once in awhile, stomp your feet. This will scare the sting rays away! SHUFFLE and STOMP! SHUFFLE and STOMP! Checkout this short video: |
California Round Sting Ray
Range
Hiding in plain site!
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California Round Stingray
Family: Dasyatididae (Stingrays)
Genus and Species: Urolophus halleri Description: The disk of the round stingray is nearly circular. The back of this species is brown, often mottled or spotted, and the underside is white to orange. The round stingray is one of six rays found in California waters which have a stinger on the tail. It can be distinguished from the others since it is the only one with a true tail fin. The others have either a whip-like tail or very short tail with no fin membrane. Range: This species occurs from Panamato Humboldt Bay, California, including the Gulf of California. Round stingrays are most abundant off southern Californiaand northern Baja Californiaat depths up to 70 feet. Natural History: Round stingrays obtain much of their food by burrowing in the substrate. Their diet includes worms, crabs, snails, clams and small fishes. It takes 3 months for the round stingray young to develop and they are approximately 3 inches wide at birth. Sexual maturity is reached in 2.6 to 3 years, and mating occurs from May to June and in December. There are one to six pups, depending upon the size of the female. Fishing Information: Most round stingrays are taken incidentally by anglers fishing for other species. However, should one wish to go after them specifically, marine worms or pieces of clam are good bait. Sandy or muddy bottoms along a beach or in a bay should provide good fishing. Round stingrays are potentially dangerous because of the wounds they can inflict. If an angler is stung, the wound should be cleaned thoroughly and bathed in hot water. One should see a doctor if pain persists or infection occurs. Other Common Names: ray, stingray, stinger, stingaree. Largest Recorded: 22 inches; no weight recorded; however, a male 20 inches long weighed 1.5 pounds. Habitat: Shallow Sandy Environment |
This rendering is the planned new Del Mar Beach Safety Center at 17th Street, due to be completed in June of 2012.
The old tower is gone, as construction has begun. The temporary Lifeguard Headquarters is at the 20th Street tower. |
Special thanks to the City of Del Mar Lifeguards
for their professionalism and compassion in helping those who have been stung! Lifeguard Emergency call 858-755-1555 City of Del Mar Lifeguards Location: Main Headquarters, 17th Street and the Beach, Del Mar, California Other towers (open when crowds necessitate): North Beach, 29th St., 25th St., 20th St., 11th (on the bluff top), and various portable towers Mailing Address: Lifeguard Department, City of Del Mar, 1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 Phone: Business 858-755-1556 Emergency: 858-755-1555 Other: Community Services & Lifeguard Department 1700 Coast Blvd (858) 755-1556 - Main Line (858) 259-3264 - Fax (858) 755-1556 - Parking Enforcement (858) 755-1524 - Facility Use Permits |