red tide - woods hole oceanographic institution...red tide health tips: 1. most people can swim in...

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.