The Purple Flag at the Beach: What It Really Means (And Why You Should Pay Attention) 1

can tolerate without burning, 110-115°F). Heat breaks down the venom.

Remove any visible barb (if easily accessible – don’t dig).

Clean the wound with soap and water.

Control bleeding with direct pressure.

Seek medical attention (stingray wounds are prone to infection, and the barb may leave fragments).

Pro tip: Do the “stingray shuffle” – slide your feet along the sandy bottom instead of lifting and stepping. This alerts stingrays to your presence, and they’ll swim away rather than being stepped on.

  1. Sea Lice (Tiny Terrors)

Sea lice aren’t actually lice. They’re