MarkP-3Hats off to Ashley Leroux and Patrick Sullivan of Pashley Y Amigos for one awesome show on June 19th! If you were part of the large crowd that gathered at SouthSide Jillz to watch their inaugural Rocky Point show, you were treated to an extra-special music fest. The music started rocking around 9pm and covered so many fun party songs that our Rocky Point revelers were dancing from the first song to the last! It was a true night to remember and even featured our own Tom Carr bellowing out and performing his version of Mambo #5…awesome job Tomas!!! Yours truly was even in on the mix debuting Pashley Y Amigos Rocky Point anthem, DOWN IN ROCKY POINT with of course, a set of maracas and a big, fat sombrero! Thank you to all who supported SouthSide Jillz and Pashley Y Amigos. We will keep you posted for their next Rocky Point show…a sure fire DO NOT MISS event.

Along with all the fun we have in our beautiful, seaside resort town we do need to be mindful of a few setbacks that can dampen an incredible beach day. Yes, even we have a few hidden “treasures” in our Sea of Cortez just like the rest of the world’s oceans, seas and waterways. It definitely is not a common experience, however jellyfish and stingrays can sting as they are a part of the sea as well. Even though I have been in our sea countless times over the past 15 years and have never had an issue, there is the occasional story and sighting of jellyfish and stingrays. Although, neither should be life-threatening they do make for an uncomfortable time for a short while. Local lore has it that “The Rocky Point Shuffle” has been known to keep the stingrays at bay…that is shuffling your feet on the ocean floor as you walk to scurry any potential water pests away. Although our encounters with both stingrays and jellyfish are rare, I have outlined some medical advice from several doctors in both America and Mexico.

Should you be one of the unfortunate few who happen to be stung by a stingray, here is some solid advice:

1- Relax. Even though they may be painful, almost all of the stingray wounds are treatable and most of the issues arise from an allergic reaction or secondary infection.

2- Identify your symptoms…Take a few moments to gather yourself to be able to clearly state what your symptoms are so in the event of medical attention, you can recant what your issues are. Should you have swelling of the tongue, lips, or other body parts or difficulty breathing, you most likely are having an allergic reaction and should seek immediate medical care. Only you know yourself the best, so always err on the safe side and seek a trained medical professional as soon as possible.

3- Take care of your wound…while still in a bit of sea water, carefully take any stingers out of your infected area, use tweezers if necessary from a first aid kit. However, do not remove any penetrating debris from your neck, chest or abdomen. Once out of the water, wrap your infected area in a clean towel. If there is some bleeding, apply direct pressure to the area to cease the bleeding.

4- Soak the wound in hot water. By soaking the wound, it will help to minimize the pain. Leave the wound soaking for about an hour or until the pain has subsided applying more hot water as needed but of course never to burn yourself.

5- Monitor the wound for signs of infection. Be sure to keep the area clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water as well as keeping the wound dry afterward. Antibiotic ointment should be applied daily.

6- Lastly, medical treatment by a trained professional is always recommended. Safety is Rule #1…and we want to see you healthy and happy in short order!

Another ocean nuisance is the uncomfortable jellyfish sting. First and foremost, call emergency medical services should someone show signs of an allergic reaction or if the sting covers more than half of an arm or a leg. Some steps to quickly help a stingray victim are the following:

1- Wash the area with seawater to deactivate the stinging cells.

2- Rinse as soon as possible with vinegar. Do not use fresh water as this can reactivate the stinging cells.

3- Soak the area in hot water for at least 20 minutes. Cold packs can also be used if hot water is not available.

4- Use hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching and swelling.

5- Apply antibiotic ointment 3 times a day.

Please note that the treatment suggestions are only a means to assist you before you seek trained, medical professionals. Although both stingray and jellyfish stings are uncommon, they do occasionally occur and being aware of some helpful tips will help ease your pain until you get medical help from the trained professionals here in Rocky Point.

So, happy August to everyone! I cannot believe our summer is coming to a close and our most amazing fall weather is upon us in a few weeks! Until then, help to spread the word with your friends about your fun-filled adventures in Rocky Point. Always look out for the next guy and take the time to make a difference in another’s life. You never know when you may be the one in need of the assistance. I look forward to seeing you all at the beach in the very near future. GOD BLESS! ADIOS AMIGOS!