My family went swimming at West Haven beach today, well, my 8 year old son and me. the wife and daughter stayed on the beach. After leaving the beach and driving to get some food my son went to get out of the car and said his feet hurt when he tried to walk. Turns out he had a couple of very shallow cuts/scrapes on the bottoms of both feet and did not realize it because he was having so much fun collecting crabs and other sea creatures that were probably abundant because of all the shells and seaweed, etc. around. His feet dried out during the short drive to get some food. Well, we cancelled the food plans and drove straight home to a warm soapy bath followed by scrubbing with antibacterial soap and bandaging with mecurichrome and Neosporin. I've had MANY cuts on the ocean over the years and have never had a problem, but I've also read the stories here and other other websites about ocean bacteria/infections. I have a couple questions that I'm hoping some of you guys might be able to answer. 1) Any word on the water quality at West Haven Beach recently? I checked online and the latest reports I found were from 2017. 2) Even though the cuts/scrapes were shallow I almost took him to the clinic tonight but he did not want to go and he's of course not yet vaccinated for Covid. I will call his pediatrician in the morning, but I wanted to also consult with the folks here on their point of view. Should I be concerned or am I overreacting?

Thanks!

I would monitor him for a few days. I think bacteria issues are not as much of an issue until water tempts heat up in august.
If he gets a fever, it seems tired then that’s the time for a trip to the DR. But... I’m not a dr.
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My family went swimming at West Haven beach today, well, my 8 year old son and me. the wife and daughter stayed on the beach. After leaving the beach and driving to get some food my son went to get out of the car and said his feet hurt when he tried to walk. Turns out he had a couple of very shallow cuts/scrapes on the bottoms of both feet and did not realize it because he was having so much fun collecting crabs and other sea creatures that were probably abundant because of all the shells and seaweed, etc. around. His feet dried out during the short drive to get some food. Well, we cancelled the food plans and drove straight home to a warm soapy bath followed by scrubbing with antibacterial soap and bandaging with mecurichrome and Neosporin. I've had MANY cuts on the ocean over the years and have never had a problem, but I've also read the stories here and other other websites about ocean bacteria/infections. I have a couple questions that I'm hoping some of you guys might be able to answer. 1) Any word on the water quality at West Haven Beach recently? I checked online and the latest reports I found were from 2017. 2) Even though the cuts/scrapes were shallow I almost took him to the clinic tonight but he did not want to go and he's of course not yet vaccinated for Covid. I will call his pediatrician in the morning, but I wanted to also consult with the folks here on their point of view. Should I be concerned or am I overreacting?

Thanks!

Weird. I wouldn't worry about it. We use to have our hands cut to ribbons from unhooking Bass and , in 50 years in the surf, I never got an infection.

A little over 20 years ago I had a work trip to Tampa and a workmate of mine (Brooks) said to come to the east coast for a few days to hang at his mom's condo in I believe Deerfield Beach. He picks me up at the Ft Lauderdale airport with a big bottle of Belgian beer between his legs and a cooler full on ice in the back seat. We consumed a little too much Belgian triple and went down to the intercoastal. Being a midwesterner in an altered state of mine I didn't realize I was walking on razor sharp corals. I told Brooks my feet hurt and after his inspection he said, yeah this isn't good. But then he remembered they just shocked the hot tub with chlorine and I soaked my feet. I could barely walk for a week but never had an issue. Sadly Brooks died while diving in Bali 10 years later. Awesome person and a good friend.

I agree, check for a fever but I'd wager if you went to the doctor they'd prescribe something just to be sure.

Ice cream will fix this issue
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i HAVE A fisherman friend that did some go on some charter trips in the Carolinas ..
he said the boat had a small tub of liquid disinfection & was advised to
wash after touching the salt .

about 15/20 years ago a diver got a infection after diving for sreamers ar Conimicut

I ,ve had a hundered of scrapes from badd mouth & also spined from
any fish with one

maybe 8/9 years ago I got a small {prick} on my thigh od a Friday ........ on saturday ir was getting bigger / saw the doctor on call .sent me to a surgeon who sliced & drained it she call me at six that night telling me that it tested .. I don,t know but she gave me a scrip // a few months later I had skin cancer surgery & stiched on my left hand .......... I cut my right hand somehow on.in the saltwater ........... the next morning both places has blown up .........I popped it & they both flowed /I started the med again , right away & that been it .

another times I was hand digging & got infected by something that was under my skin ....... and when it was real hot & I,d sweat you could actually see it moving under my skin //////// cure some kind of med .....stay out of the sun & heat &&&& don,t sweat .............................. ever since that day .i manic with the word heat & I can,t remember ever going out on the water when its that n hot no matter whats running or anything ......................really feaked me out .,. havn,t been near the water anytime its hot & sticky including now even thro bass is open & that area for shellfishing is open on a limited basis ><><

It #^&#^&#^&#^&in really scares me ><>:humpty:

Thanks for all the responses!

Update:

I spent a couple days washing his foot and applying mecurichrome (I have a VERY old bottle still) followed by triple antibiotic ointment and waterproof bandaids. I took him to his pediatrician the next morning and she and her partner both said the cuts on both feet looked good and that I had done a good job applying mercurichrome (his Pedi said it is the BEST stuff!) followed by Neosporing triple antibio. She told us to soak his feet in preboiled water with Epsom salt multiple times per day and reapply the Neosporin as well as a script she gave us for Neomysin to be applied with it. She also gave us a script for an oral bio (amoxycillin) but told us not to fill it unless it started to look infected. Well, this morning we filled the oral antibio because the largest cut was now clearly starting to become infected (redness around and small amount of crusty yellow puss). He's had 2 doses so far and the infection seems to be much better already but still slightly infected. We will complete the 10 day course, but I think this cut will be healed/sealed within a couple days.

Thanks to all you guys! This is the best group of fishing gents and ladies going! I miss the old days but still love to jump on and read the stories of what others are catching. We really appreaciate the thoughtful comments.

Stay safe and well!