Red Tide at Seagrove??

[pk305]

We're at Seagrove & several of us are developing scratching throats and coughs & have heard that this is probably due to the Red Tide (algae)....
Is this true? How long is this Red Tide likely to last?
I'm just concerned for my very young grandchildren who have just arrived today. Any info will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Wekick]

Yes we have the same thing--could hardly breath, but it seems better today. I wondered if it could be red tide but we were blaming salt in the the air. We've never had it before in the 15 years we've been coming here. We're in Seagrove.

 

[Smiling JOe]

We're at Seagrove & several of us are developing scratching throats and coughs & have heard that this is probably due to the Red Tide (algae)....
Is this true? How long is this Red Tide likely to last?
I'm just concerned for my very young grandchildren who have just arrived today. Any info will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

It has taken my breath away the last couple of days when I have gone to the beach. As soon as I get out there, I get the light cough, and it is difficult to breath.Below is some helpful info regarding Red Tide, directed primarly at surfers, since the Gulf is closed for swimming.
The info below is from MrSurfs.com
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Saturday update NOON 9/24/05:[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Surf's still BIG w/fair form but very hard to get out. Lots of folks cannot get through the inside section to the outside. For the Lucky few that did -they"ve got some pretty good stuff (Check Box#3) See Ya In The Water! I made it out, but it was not easy! Red Tide is still very bad + bring the sunscreen -it's a scorther today![/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Saturday 10a 9/24/05:[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Surf is still BIG. Should be up all day & fade by Monday. Lots of folks out surfing. RED TIDE is still BAD so BEWARE! (see Helpful Hints below). Surf should be good thru Sunday w/fun leftovers Monday. Pray for the folks West who have been affected by RITA & KATRINA.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Swell still pumping in from RITA w/fair to good form but very CONSISTENT & STRONG RIPS. Winds still out of ESE (Side/Off-shore) BE CAREFUL = Only EXPERIENCED Surfers should to be out in the water. Surf will be more managable later today.
Water is Murky in mid 80s. Jellies are present w/Red Tide
We have partly cloudy skies & warm air temps.
DOUBLE RED FLAGS- High Surf Advisory still in effect for our coast.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]P.S. Drive carefully -it's THUNDERBEACH & thousands of Bikers are in town.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]HELPFUL HINTS:[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For Red Tide = 1.(if you're not allergic to Tylenol)take a couple of Tylenol tablets :30 minutes prior to going out into the water- 4 hours later take two more tablets. This will help subdue symptoms (TYLENOL seems to work best) 2. Wash down w/fresh water & use soap as soon as you get out of the water. 3. Rinse your ears out very good (use a Ear Rinse Solution if possible you can get some at any pharmacy).[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For the JELLIES: 1. Put WINDEX on ice & take it to the beach (does not help if you leave it at home or back in the car) Spray down affected area -it"ll take the sting right out! [/font]

 

[Beach Runner]

Excerpted from http://www.doh.state.fl.us/communications/office/pressreleases/1999/8.29.99redtide.doc :

Exposure to red tide can lead to varying degrees of eye, nose, and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms. Health officials recommend that people experiencing the aforementioned symptoms remain away from beach areas -- Once a person leaves the red tide area, the symptoms usually go away. People with severe or chronic respiratory conditions are cautioned to avoid red tide areas.

Residents living in beach areas are advised to close windows and run the airconditioner (making sure that the A/C filter is maintained according to manufacturer's specs). If outdoors, they may want to wear paper filter masks, especially if onshore winds are blowing.

The other human effects of red tide are transient, with no long-term health effects, although any individuals with severe chronic respiratory conditions such as emphysema or asthma should avoid beach areas and contact with water spray during red tide conditions. In situations where conditions produce human contact with affected water spray, such as those due to wind direction and wave action along with spray production by boat propellers, some susceptible people may experience varying degrees of eye, nose, and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms, and may include coughing or wheezing. The symptoms are generally only a transient nuisance, with mild discomfort, and can be resolved by leaving the area where spray is being produced. A rash can sometimes occur after contact with affected water, and is usually self-limited, resolving within 24 hours. It may be prudent for a swimmer in an affected area to rinse off after swimming, to reduce the time of contact with affected water. Swallowed water is unlikely to cause health effects, but prudence would indicate that this should be avoided.

Red tide can affect humans through consumption of contaminated molluscan shellfish, through aerosolization of the organism, and through skin contact. During a red tide, bivalve shellfish, including clams and oysters, concentrate the toxin and can produce neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) in humans if eaten. Both mild gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms may occur in NSP, which may include tingling and numbness of lips, tongue, and throat, muscular aches, dizziness, reversal of the sensations of hot and cold, diarrhea, and vomiting. Onset of this disease occurs within a few minutes to a few hours; duration is fairly short, from a few hours to several days. Recovery is complete with few after effects; no fatalities have been reported.

Cooking does not eliminate the toxin.

 

[aquaticbiology]

SJ, do you surf? It's the life (with greenish-yellow hair!), and of course, the dynamic wave action that I loved. Not far away from where I grew up was a nice fresh-water wave pool where the huge perfect breakers would grind you along the concrete bottom if you fell! Get tubed, maaaan!

 

[Smiling JOe]

SJ, do you surf? It's the life (with greenish-yellow hair!), and of course, the dynamic wave action that I loved. Not far away from where I grew up was a nice fresh-water wave pool where the huge perfect breakers would grind you along the concrete bottom if you fell! Get tubed, maaaan!

I have not tried it yet, but it is never too late. I have many friends who surf, and they are all willing to teach me. I just have not tried it yet. However, I am thinking about getting a skateboard, seriously.

 

[JB]

Oh, man, I can't believe this. I am going to be down there in three weeks. Haven't been to the area since August 2004. This would completely ruin our trip.

Any idea how long this may last?

 

[Smiling JOe]

I am not positive that it is Red Tide, but the symptoms sure do seem to match. When standing on the beach with the wind blowing from the south, I lose my breath and begin a light cough. As quickly as I get off the beach, breathing is easier and the coughing stops.

Double red flags are still flying so stay out of the water. The clarity is coming back, but the 3'-4' waves are still breaking hard, and rip currents are present.

 

[JB]

No recent samples have been collected in Walton or Oklaloosa counties. Samples were taken in Bay county on 9/21. They showed low or no levels of Karenia brevis. However, this has been a persistent problem from Cape San Blas all the way to the Big Bend for several weeks.

Let's just hope it's Rita-related and will abate soon.

 

[Smiling JOe]

No recent samples have been collected in Walton or Oklaloosa counties. Samples were taken in Bay county on 9/21. They showed low or no levels of Karenia brevis. However, this has been a persistent problem from Cape San Blas all the way to the Big Bend for several weeks.

Let's just hope it's Rita-related and will abate soon.

I wonder if samples are taken along the shore line. If so, I guess the test results could show negative along the shore, but Red Tide could be present slightly off-shore, and the stronger winds of the past few days, could be blowing it onshore above the water, making it difficult to breathe?