I do not fear rays and will not avoid the places they are found because they inhabit many of the places that I love---redfish flats, tarpon and bonefish haunts, and the places where my kids swim. I will in the future, however, incorporate safer wading, boating, and swimming practices into my coastal routine.

There are a number of species of rays found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters that have one or more saw-edge barbs or spines on their tails. Such barbs, part of a rays' self-defense mechanism, can cause nasty lacerations or puncture wounds. When a ray is stepped on or accidentally kicked, its tail will snap forward in a self-defense reflex. The wounds alone should be enough to make an angler stay clear of them; however, the spines are covered with an "integumentary sheath," which, when ruptured, releases a powerful venom that causes severe localized pain.

Except for biologists and men and women who spend a lot of time on the water, stingrays are often difficult to distinguish from species of rays without barbs, and even their cousins, skates. Thus, for the ordinary angler and coastal visitor all rays should be treated with respect.

Avoiding Injury
You must first understand that rays do not attack or seek their victims. These are timid marine creatures that will avoid encounters with humans when given a chance. There are relatively few painful encounters with rays considering the number of anglers, swimmers, and commercial fishermen who use their waters. Rays with stinging barbs are found on American coasts and around the world.

Anglers who frequent flats in Florida, the Bahamas, and along the East and Gulf coasts are likely to encounter rays of all sizes and shapes. Even a small stingray, say the size of a dinner plate, can inflict a day- or trip- ending wound. The one that ruined my day was a Southern Stingray (Dasyatis americana) a fairly common species found from the mid-Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico, and south to Brazil. Southern Stingrays range from 8 inches at birth to almost 5 feet across at maturity. The ray that exploded in murky water next to my leg had pointed pectoral fins, a distinguishing feature of the Southern Stingray.

Like flounder, rays are often well camouflaged over grass, mud, or sand bottoms. They not only change their colors, but they can also cover themselves with sand or mud while lying perfectly still on the bottom. Wading anglers have long been told to shuffle their feet to warn rays of their presence. When wading for skittish redfish or bonefish most anglers I know are more concerned about focusing on their quarry and being as quiet as possible. A noisy shuffle is the last thing we want to do. Here are some suggestions that won't hurt your fishing and may reduce the possibility of a stingray injury:

• Always wear polarized glasses. They are not only necessary to see reds, bonefish, and tarpon, but they also help you see the outline of a laid-up ray in clear water.
• Do the "shuffle" when you can, but if you must be extra quiet carry a wading staff to probe the water ahead of you.
• Since I am convinced that sandals and simple neoprene booties are not be enough to stop the sharp spine of a ray, consider wearing a heavier wading boot designed with stingrays in mind. I have also noticed products, such as "Rayguards," that offer lightweight protection from your calves to your feet.
• Never step out of a boat in shallow coastal waters without looking at your landing spot. Also, avoid wading in shallow murky water or at night when visibility is low. Along with rays such places increase the likelihood of an unwanted encounter with a jellyfish or shark. My own injury occurred when I foolishly waded into thigh-deep dirty water.
• If you happen to catch a stingray with hook, do not handle it or bring it in the boat. Cut it free. Commercial fishermen are sometimes injured while trying to take a ray out of a net. The spine is sharp enough to go through ordinary gloves and clothing.

Although it is desirable to clean the wound with alcohol or hexachlorophene, it is more important to wrap the affected area in hot towels or place it in hot water as soon as possible. Water should not be hot enough to burn the victim. It is believed that hot water or hot, wet towels, changed frequently to maintain heat, helps to denature the venom. For many victims, myself included, heat has provided blessed relief from the intense pain. Some literature also indicates that ice or cold packs may provide relief. For commercial fishermen, fishing guides, and care givers, heat seems to be the preferred pain treatment.

Where, you ask, does one get hot water or towels on the flats or out in the boonies? Commercial fishermen have found that wet towels placed on a hot inboard engine can provide a good source of heat. For anglers and pleasure boaters, the engine cooling water coming out the "weep hole" of an outboard motor can also provide ample heat. For anglers who carry a well-stocked first aid kit, chemical "heat packs," available at drugstores, should be considered.

Proceed to professional medical treatment as soon as possible. Without proper equipment and medications wounds cannot be cleaned thoroughly in the field and they may contain parts of the broken barb, sheath, and bacteria.

When you get medical attention you should expect your docotr or nurse to take your vital signs to make sure nothing else is occurring in conjunction with the injury. The wound may be cleaned and probed to make sure no part of the spine, sheath, or other foreign particles are present. In my case I was also x-rayed for foreign materials.

A local anaesthetic may be injected around the wound to relieve pain and/or you may be given more of the proven hot water treatment. If your tetanus vaccination is not current you will probably be given a tetanus booster. Also, after asking about allergic reactions you may be given an appropriate antibiotic.

One medical journal stressed the importance of a visit to an advanced medical facility if a stingray spine has caused lacerations or penetrated the chest or abdomen. Such trunk wounds can be more serious than one on a leg or arm. Finally, there should be follow-up visits to your physician for wounds that do not heal quickly.