red tide - woods hole oceanographic institution...red tide health tips: 1. most people can swim in...
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TOP 10 RED TIDE FACTS:
1. InFlorida,redtideiscausedbyamicroscopicalga(aplant-likemicroorganism)calledKarenia brevisor K. brevis.
2. Theorganismproducesatoxinthatcanaffectthecentralnervoussystemoffish,birds,mammalsandotheranimals.
3. Athighconcentrations(calledblooms),theorganismmaydiscolorthewater–sometimesred,lightordarkgreen,brownorclear.
4. RedtidesorHarmfulAlgalBloomsoccurworldwide.K. brevisisfoundalmostexclusivelyintheGulfofMexicobuthasbeenfoundontheeastcoastofFloridaandoffthecoastofNorthCarolina.
5. Redtidebloomscanlastdays,weeksormonthsandcanalsochangedailyduetowindconditions.Onshorewindsnormallybringitneartheshoreandoffshorewindsdriveitouttosea.
6. RedtidewasfirstofficiallyrecordedinFloridain1844.
7. Aredtidebloomneedsbiology(theorganisms),chemistry(naturalorman-madenutrientsforgrowth),physics(concentratingandtransportmechanisms).Noonefactorcausesit.Testsarebeingconductedtoseeifcoastalnutrientsenhanceorprolongblooms.
8. ReportfishkillstoFWRIat1-800-636-0511.Checkcurrentredtidestatusinformationbycountyatwww.floridamarine.org.
9. TolearnmoreaboutRedTidegotowww.RedTideOnline.comorviewfourstreamingvideosonlineatwww.Start1.com
10.RedTideHealthHotlineisaFREE,24/7servicestaffedbymedicalprofessionals.
Call1-888-232-8635forhealthquestions.
Formoreinformationcheckthesehelpfulredtidesites:www.RedTideOnline.com•www.MyFWC.com
www.MOTE.org•www.START1.comwww.DOH.state.fl.us•www.CDC.gov
RED TIDE
07/06
RED TIDE HEALTH TIPS:
1.Mostpeoplecanswiminredtidebutitcancauseskinirritationandburningeyes.Ifyourskiniseasilyirritated,avoidredtidewater.Ifyouexperienceirritation,getoutandthoroughlywashoffwithfreshwater.Swimmingneardeadfishisnotrecommended.
2.Symptomsfrombreathingredtidetoxinsarenormallycoughing,sneezingandtearyeyes.Symptomsareusuallytemporarywhenredtidetoxinsareintheair.Wearingaparticlefiltermaskmaylessentheeffects,andresearchshowsthatusingover-the-counterantihistaminesmaydecreaseyoursymptoms.Checkthemarineforecast.Fewertoxinsareintheairwhenthewindisblowingoffshore.
3.Peoplewithrespiratoryproblemsshouldavoidredtideareas,especiallywhenwindsareblowingtoxinsnearshore.Ifyougotothebeach,takeyourshortactinginhalerwithyou.Ifyouhavesymptoms,leavethebeachandseekairconditioning.
SEAFOOD SAFETY TIPS:
1.Commercialseafoodfoundinrestaurantsandgrocerystoresissafebecauseitcomesfromredtidefreewaterandismonitoredbythegovernment.
2.Recreationalfishermanmustbecareful:•Donoteatmollusks(clamsoroysters)takenfrom
Floridaredtidewaters,astheycontaintoxinsthatcauseafoodpoisoningcalledNSP(NeurotoxicShellfishPoisoning).
•Finfishcaughtlivecanbeeateniffilleted.•Shrimpandcrabsaresafetoeat.•Usecommonsense:Harvestingdistressedordead
animalsisnotadvisedunderanycircumstances.Ediblepartsofotheranimals(likecrustaceans)commonlycalledshellfish(crabs,shrimpandlobsters),arenotaffectedbytheredtideorganismsandcanbeeaten.
CALLTHEREDTIDEHEALTHHOTLINEFORQUESTIONSAND/ORADVICE:
24/7FREEservicestaffedbymedicalprofessionals.1-888-232-8635
RedTideOnline.comisprovidedasaservicetoFloridabusinesses,citizensandvisitorsbyTheRedTideAllianceofthe
FWC-FloridaFishandWildlifeResearchInstitute(FWRI),MoteMarineLaboratoryandSolutionstoAvoidRedTide(START)
incooperationwiththeFloridaDepartmentofHealth.