This weekend, the state of Nayarit announced that it would close its beaches due to the presence of the Moray Fish. Since at least 165 people had injuries after bites of these specimens.
Given this situation, pre-hospital care was necessary and in some cases the care of the Citizen Protection and Fire Department of the town of Compostela, who gave first aid for the bites of these fish to residents and tourists.
According to information from L'Aquarium Barcelona, a page specialized in providing information on marine fauna, he explains that the Moray Fish has an elongated body and an eel shape with a single fin. Its skin is thick and viscous without scales.
It hides in cracks and holes in the rocks and if it feels threatened it can become aggressive. It is carnivorous and poses a risk to humans since its bite is not poisonous but toxic.
Apart from the fact that the bite is very painful, it can become infected, therefore, it is necessary to clean the affected area with physiological serum. It is important to be aware of the affected person because the pain is usually intense and sometimes extreme, it can cause loss of consciousness.
Arturo Gómez Ortiz, director of Civil Protection for the municipality of Compostela, published a statement on the Facebook page of this organization where he explained the natural situation of the beaches as well as a precautionary notice. He explained that brigades were held to make people feel calmer.
“Citizens are made aware of the presence of marine animals, known as Rayas and Morenas, in Playa de Rincón de Guayabitos, elements of #Bomberos and #paramédicos attached to this institution, carry out beachside tours, in which bathers are informed of the recommendations to follow before the presence of this type of marine fauna, in the same way pre-hospital medical care has been provided to those who have suffered direct contact with these animals”.
In that statement, Civil Protection also specified that in the following days jellyfish would also be present on the beaches and that, it was necessary to be alert.
“Reminding the general population, that in the coming days due to changes in water temperature, the presence of this type of marine animals as well as jellyfish or also known as bad water will increase.”
According to a report by National Geography c, jellyfish are invertebrate organisms that have a gelatinous, bell-shaped body from which tentacles and trunk emerge. They tend to bite to catch their prey, so humans are also at risk, as they can hurt anyone while swimming in the sea or walking in the water.
Jellyfish stings are usually painful and it depends on the species whether the bite is to be treated with a medical emergency or not. However, the injury does leave a tickle, red marks or itching on the skin, so a doctor should be consulted to assess the situation.
Faced with this situation, Civil Protection and State Firefighters, as well as the municipal authority placed purple flags, which means “harmful fauna in the sea”, so that people could stay away. They also carried out surveillance activities on both beaches.
In order to safeguard the integrity of the inhabitants, access to the swimming area was restricted as a preventive measure. Whale watching, diving and surfing and other recreational activities were also canceled.
Authorities warned residents and tourists not to fall for false or biased information that is disseminated on the internet and on social networks, and asked to heed the indications of Civil Protection and Citizen Security.
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