Beach injuries and how to treat them
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Experts are warning about beach injuries and proper treatment.
Some common beach injuries include sunburns, cuts from sharp shells, and jellyfish stings.
Toni Scollins, a Registered Nurse at Novant Health, says that while many believe in home remedies such as vinegar for a jellyfish sting, it could actually make an infection worse.
Instead, if you do get a cut or a sting, it’s important to wash the area off with clean fresh water.
Put pressure on a wound if bleeding and if you can’t control the bleeding, call emergency services and 911.
As for sunburns, if you experience shortness of breath, it is also important to call emergency services.
Registered Nurse Toni Scollins gives advice about when to seek medical care for an injury at the beach.
She says “Sometimes when you get cut especially on an oyster shell or a sea shell, you want to get that checked out by a primary provider or a doctor because some of those incidents may require antibiotics because they can foster a bacteria in the wound that could be life threatening to you. When in doubt always get checked out.
“If you do get injured at Wrightsville Beach, the closest urgent care facility to the beach is Novant Health Autumn Hall Express Care located at 5505 Currituck Drive Suite 100 in Wilmington.
