Main reason I stopped diving or entering water is skin eating bacteria

[STB]

Main reason I stopped diving or entering water is skin eating bacteria.plus I have limited fresh water for showering that will be increased soon.


As a kid I thought the saltwater would accelerate the healing process of a cut in the skin.


Now as a middle aged adult (novis diver) I’m very leery of entering (or even washing hands ) the saltwater in fear of skin eating bacteria (especially in brackish water) I think it’s referred to as VIBRIO.



Besides the average normal cut in skin. The main cause of breakage of skin is the Florida state bird these flys attack anything that moves are taken chunks of skin while sucking my blood then to add to these bites is the scratching which creates even more breaks in skin.


These flies have ruined a few expeditions even 20 miles offshore, I’m thinking where did these devils come from.


I have ordered 2 bottles of Avon skin so soft hopefully these carnivorous flys will go eat something else, they usually don’t enter the cabin however I have felt like a prisoner on my own vessel.


My first aid kit is basically iodine and ducktape, is Clorox safe to disinfect cuts or should I stick to iodine or use both?

Florida’s tourism department doesn’t publish red tide or fly reports.I’m thinking they hus up about skin eating bacteria even more so, come to florida just don't go in the water.

it's actually illegal to throw a fish carcass w/in a certain distance from a boat launch however carcass's are always there. I'm convinced that the flys at the ramp follow me way offshore.

Thanks for any tips on keeping healthy.STB

 

[Marie13]

Only dive freshwater?

 

[STB]

I don't go to the lake much. I really like being bounced around in the Gulf of Mexico nowadays w/ rod & reel but want to get back into the water if it's safe.STB

 

[tursiops]

Florida’s tourism department doesn’t publish red tide or fly reports.I’m thinking they hus up about skin eating bacteria even more so, come to florida just don't go in the water.

Red Tide reports for Florida are published by Florida FWC. Statewide
The Florida Department of Health also provides Vibrio reports and warnings. Vibrio Infections | Florida Department of Health
Going in warm ocean water with an open wound is not smart.
I do not know what else in your post may also be incorrect.

 

[dewdropsonrosa]

I would encourage you to discuss your concerns about vibriosis with your personal doctor or your local health department, if they have a specialist who takes questions from the public.

The most dangerous form of the disease caused by Vibriosis vulnificus only affects ~200 people per year, so your individual risk may not be significant - especially if you're diving in waters that do not harbor the bacterium.

 

[The Chairman]

Dive or swim in any body of water with open sores and/or scabs and you're inviting swarms of minnows to attack. Personally, I think they're cool and the do a great job of debriding wounds.

 

[jonhall]

Wouldn’t use Chlorox on a wound. Cl is poisonous and Chlorox is corrosive to skin tissue. Good for disinfecting other things though.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Diving is not for everyone. Your concerns and the reasons for them, may be a contraindication for you. And that's OK because you like bouncing around in your boat with your rod and reel.

 

[Tippytoes12]

Theoretical concerns of contracting an extremely rare condition , as a result of contact with an extremely rare organism , should be balanced against the enormous benefits of diving to our physical and mental health, to protection of the marine life and income for countries and communities that have few other industries.

 

[Storker]

My first aid kit is basically iodine and ducktape, is Clorox safe to disinfect cuts or should I stick to iodine or use both?

Don't ever use Clorox. It's highly alkaline and harmful for the tissues. Alkali burns are worse than acid burns.

I've used iodine, and I've used 3% hydrogen peroxide. They sting like heck on open wounds, and they're not particularly good for the healing process as they kill the tissue as well as the bacteria. I only use those if I know that I have some kind of infection in the wound. For a fresh wound, I let it bleed a bit to rinse out any bacteria, and clean it with a chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride washing solution. If I have a choice, I prefer chlorhexidine. If it's good enough for pre-op sterilization, it's good enough for me.

Theoretical concerns of contracting an extremely rare condition , as a result of contact with an extremely rare organism , should be balanced against the enormous benefits of diving to our physical and mental health

Seconded.

I'm not sure what "skin eating bacteria" are, but if what the OP is worried about is necrotizing fasciitis, I'd say the risk is really minimal, and that normal risks like being run over by a boat, T-boned in traffic or dropping dead from a heart attack are almost infinitely more probable.