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Walter & Group...
[GH] Hard to imagine how valuable information on proper handling of tropical salt water stings can be when the injury actually occurs ! Important things to know for those taking a trip to these tropical areas for the first time and fish without the help of folks with local knowledge.
Not to belabor the issue, but here are a few important tips to add :
Gordy
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[GH] From Jim Dowd. (FYI - Acklins Island is a remote out-island of the S.E. Bahamas.) :
Dear Gordy,
Thank you very much for this thread.
I am hosting a group of fly fishers on Acklins Island in the latter half of March, and naturally am concerned about safety issues. Although my Wilderness First Responder training is up to date, none of the info you provided was covered in that venue. This was particularly timely, apropos; and much appreciated.
Thank you also for keeping the Master Study Group viable. It is exceptionally helpful.
Will try to catch a big one in your name...
Cordially,
Jim Dowd
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[GH] From Tom Dempsey:
Living on the gulf coast I have had some experience with stings . Preparation H works. It has a steroid ,steroids work for lots of problems. Next if you can get someone to pop 40 mg of depomedrol in your butt it will definitely help . I always carry some on my boat. Tom in Mobile I am a M.D. by the way.
I don't know if it was mentioned, but braided line works better than mono. Mono slips, does not compress as well, harder to wind coils tight to one another (key property) to get uniform compression of skin and edema. If you are good enough to tie a Bimini or an Albright you can preform the ring trick.But don't wait until the 11th hour to attempt it. You can practice at home on your fishing partner,BFF,or your wife. Most of the times I have use this was in the E.R. on a finger on a damsel in distress who would NEVER let anyone near her with a pair of cutters.
TOM in Mobile
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[GH] Tom,
Yes. Steroids can help if used before the circulation cut-off is too extensive. I've found that Depomedrol, being a long acting steroid, won't work as fast as a more soluble product such as Solu medrol (methylprednisolone) , etc.
As you may know, Jim Penrod and I are also M.D.s OK for us or others with medical training to have this stuff, but perhaps not the best thing for most folks to carry. Maintaining needle/syringe sterility alone can be a problem unless stored properly, etc.........
Good call on Preparation H. Also, tubes of 1% hydrocortisone ointment can be obtained over-the-counter without a prescription. Helps a great deal for skin surface stings.
Oral steroids such as prednisone, Medrol dose packs, etc. can be obtained with a prescription and are easily and safely stored on a skiff or in a little first aid kit since they are in pill form.
I've also found that you are correct that monofilament line is far less effective than braided material for ring removal.
Also.... Thanks for emphasizing the importance of winding the line so the coils are tight together .... no gaps.
One last trick: When I was on my "mother ship" in the Bahamas, I had a complete tool kit including electrical supplies. I've never found a more slippery lubricant for things like ring removal than the tube of slicky material electricians use when they pull wires through conduit. One brand is called: IDEAL YELLOW 77 Wire pulling lubricant. (It is water soluble).
Gordy
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