While it is most common in brackish water, it is still possible to find it well inland. For first aid, while the gel might help something stronger would be better. Many of the commercial fishermen and guides I've known keep a bottle of betadine solution or Hibiclense on their boats.
Questions about this Flesh eating bacteria
So after reading all the recent bad news about this stuff I have a few questions.
Beings that I am not from the coast area, I don't know much about it. I know the news and social media have me spooked. I keep a big bottle of antibacterial gel on my boat and use it several times during the day. Seems like I bleed for some reason or another every time I go fishing. And I make my 7yr old dang near bathe in it a few times each trip.
Has this stuff always been around and we are just hearing more about it now?
How safe is it to let my kids swim and play in the water out at the islands?
I thought it was found mostly in brackish water?
Can it enter the body in any way other than through a cut or puncture? Nose, mouth, etc..
I know it a worse on folks with weaker immune systems but I am now concerned to let my kids play on the beach and go fishing with me.
Beings that I am not from the coast area, I don't know much about it. I know the news and social media have me spooked. I keep a big bottle of antibacterial gel on my boat and use it several times during the day. Seems like I bleed for some reason or another every time I go fishing. And I make my 7yr old dang near bathe in it a few times each trip.
Has this stuff always been around and we are just hearing more about it now?
How safe is it to let my kids swim and play in the water out at the islands?
I thought it was found mostly in brackish water?
Can it enter the body in any way other than through a cut or puncture? Nose, mouth, etc..
I know it a worse on folks with weaker immune systems but I am now concerned to let my kids play on the beach and go fishing with me.
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It's always been around..I know three people personally that got it 20 years ago. One lost his arm.
All these stories are making me want to carry some hand sanitizer on the boat. Is that a good start?
I always here to keep nicks and scratches out of the water but I'm the type of guy that always seems to have some nicks or scratches somewhere on me. I just don't see me staying away from fishing because of a nick on my hand. Am I under-thinking this?
I always here to keep nicks and scratches out of the water but I'm the type of guy that always seems to have some nicks or scratches somewhere on me. I just don't see me staying away from fishing because of a nick on my hand. Am I under-thinking this?
Like I said earlier - hand sanitizer is weak. It is OK for just general use but when you get a cut, it needs something serious like betadine.
Thanks
Is that something you can buy at CVS? My main use of the hand sani would just be after handling a few fish or the anchor and washing my hands off in the water to hit some sanitizer real quick.Like I said earlier - hand sanitizer is weak. It is OK for just general use but when you get a cut, it needs something serious like betadine.
You can get betadine solution at any decent pharmacy. It is that red stuff that they smeer around when you are about to give blood.
Shrimpers I know live by bleach water. It cleans and kills everything, or so I'm told.
Good for cleaning "things" but very bad for your body. Bleach produces chemical burns on your skin.Shrimpers I know live by bleach water. It cleans and kills everything, or so I'm told.
We've always used a bleach and water mixture. Been doing it my whole life fishing and shrimping, dad did it before me, grandpaw, before him and so on. Not only goes it help prevent bad infections it also eliminates all the soreness in the fingers from the little fishing line, fin, gill etc cuts and scrapes we all get. Never had any ill effects from it. Def would not be pouring pure bleach into an open wound but haven't seen any harm at all from a mixture. Cheap easy and works great. Not saying at all the bleach won't hurt you if you do it to much just that in a diluted mixture with water that I've been doing as long as I can remember I've never seen anything bad come from it.
Bleach is not bad for your body. It is actually used in hospitals in solution with water to treat wounds/pressure ulcersGood for cleaning "things" but very bad for your body. Bleach produces chemical burns on your skin.
I spent 11 days in the hospital with this on my hand in 2001. I know another guy that had it worse from Mobile about the same time and he picked it up way offshore. I picked it up in Weswego. I did over 82 IV bags of antibiotics before it arrested. Bleach solution has been recommended to me by physicians.
I let my kids swim down there.
I let my kids swim down there.
I'm in a business where we use bleach buckets to sanitize daily and it's on my hands everyday. The key is the ph level. We're required to be at an acceptable ph or could get docked by the health dept. The correct ph is harmless and won't bleach stain clothes but will kill everything. Too much bleach is toxic though. We use test strips to measure the strength to ensure safe levels.
^^^This^^^We've always used a bleach and water mixture. Been doing it my whole life fishing and shrimping, dad did it before me, grandpaw, before him and so on. Not only goes it help prevent bad infections it also eliminates all the soreness in the fingers from the little fishing line, fin, gill etc cuts and scrapes we all get. Never had any ill effects from it. Def would not be pouring pure bleach into an open wound but haven't seen any harm at all from a mixture. Cheap easy and works great. Not saying at all the bleach won't hurt you if you do it to much just that in a diluted mixture with water that I've been doing as long as I can remember I've never seen anything bad come from it.
Never seen a commercial fisherman that didn't have bleach bottles for net markers.
Wow don. Sure glad that you are ok. Thanks for the info guys. I know the chances are slim to get this, but I don't want to take any chances. Especially if some bleach water and triple anti cream will help reduce the chances. I found an older thread about this and I read some of it. they said to use a 50/50 mix with the bleach and water. That seems a bit strong???
Don, did the dr give you a mix ratio to use? How do you guys mix it?
Don, did the dr give you a mix ratio to use? How do you guys mix it?
Did you see where a young man from Ocean Springs just died from this? He had a cut, and got in the water and got the infection, but he had health issues. To me the key considerations include whether or not you have a compromised immune system, or liver problems, whether you have a cut which will allow the bacteria to enter, and also, the bacteria proliferates when the water is warmer. If you do not get treatment immediately, (< 72 hours) things quickly go from bad to worse. I always use Neosporin when I have a line cut or something as soon as I can. Some of the the symptoms you should watch out for are lethargy and flu like symptoms. If you get these after being on the water, be sure to get treatment, and tell your Dr. you might have been exposed. I am going to start using bleach per the advice given here.
I don't think I've ever seen it used in that way, but true - diluted bleach isn't going to cause chemical burns.Bleach is not bad for your body. It is actually used in hospitals in solution with water to treat wounds/pressure ulcers
Thanks. My finger was scheduled to be amputated the day it arrested. 1 cup to a gal is what was recommended to me. I wouldn't put 50/50 on my skin. CDC website should say. Also, keep in mind that the hyperchlorate will have completely reacted with the water in 24-36 hours and won't be effective after that time. Helps if you keep it out of light.Wow don. Sure glad that you are ok. Thanks for the info guys. I know the chances are slim to get this, but I don't want to take any chances. Especially if some bleach water and triple anti cream will help reduce the chances. I found an older thread about this and I read some of it. they said to use a 50/50 mix with the bleach and water. That seems a bit strong???
Don, did the dr give you a mix ratio to use? How do you guys mix it?
Yes flounda I saw that about the guy from OS. That and all the other cases I have been hearing about and seeing on FB has me spooked. It all got me to wondering if there's been an increase with this or is it that we hear about it so much because of the media and social media. Which ever the case, I'm buying some bleach. Cause I bleed on every fishing trip. Mostly on my hands But sometimes my feet and legs when the horse flys are bad.
what does this mean?Also, keep in mind that the hyperchlorate will have completely reacted with the water in 24-36 hours and won't be effective after that time.
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