Is a small cut dangerous to swim in the sea with?

[PattyDuckface]

So, there's not much more to add to the title apart from "please help, and give me advice".

I am on holiday in Italy and my child got a cut on their toe from stubbing it. Some blood but the pain subsided after 20 minutes.

Now my DH is saying it's dangerous to swim in the sea with a cut. He thinks our child must not swim until it's healed, which will totally ruin our holiday as it is 37 degrees here.

I had no idea about this being dangerous and I checked it out online but was surprised to read that there are dangerous bacteria in the sea and swimming with a cut is not recommended.

Can anyone clarify this. The cut he has is very small, it's not a wound.

‘Helpful if people could read the thread and update before commenting.

exactly - I have also witnessed a friend take the "salt water will help heal my cut foot" approach, and end up hospitalised with blood poisoning... and in need of medical evacuation back to the UK. His disputed payment on the grounds that he had been negligent

Where did you swim?

Strong antibiotic cream? Really?

Sea water is wonderful for cuts.

My only fear is that the blood from the cut will attract sharks…
Definitely showing my age here!!

I’d be encouraging swimming in the sea for healing. Is your husband a fusspot in life generally?

Do you have any antiseptic cream ? I swam in the sea recently with a horrible burn and had similar fears after googling. I slathered it in antiseptic cream after each swim just in case. It is healing well now.

Sorry just saw your update about the cream now

Antiseptic surely? It was only a stubbed toe.

Viking Bay.

Yeah maybe antiseptic, lots of things are lost in translation.

Unless the sea water is contaminated, in which cause none of you should be swimming, your partner is being weird.

Your DH is wrong.

I wouldn't hesitate to let DC swim in the sea with a minor wound. The vast majority of people have some sort of cut, scrape; bite etc and I'd consider avoiding sea swimming to be totally unnecessary.

Bacteria can obviously enter a wound, eye, nose etc more easily than intact skin but unless you live alone in a sterile room then the risk is part of living and minuscule.

I'm in Sydney. We get some very heavy rainstorms - and everyone knows not to go swimming for a few days after. I know of people who have gone in, and ended up with irritated skin, eye infections etc. The sea is a cesspit until it all gets diluted away.

I think unless there is raw sewage or recent heavy rain, generally you'll be fine.

I honestly thought this thread was going to
be about sharks!

A few years ago, I got a horrible bite from a horsefly. It got infected, I got cellulitis, ended up on IV antibiotics a couple of days before we went on holiday. Doctor said it was fine to swim etc as normal and the sea water really helped it heal up faster. It was loads better after our week away.

M’y ds cut his foot badly on a stone in Croatia first day of the holiday. The pharmacie gave us several creams. One of which they said was antibiotic with waterproof plasters. I think my dh read the same article as yours and he was anxious about it whereas I wouldn’t have given it a second thought.

Give it a clean and if you’re worried cover it while in the water then take cover off as soon as out of water but really in Italy it’s prob fine might be different if you were in the UK as then you’d be exposing it to the sewage from most of the population that has been pumped out into every coastal area 🤢

rather than the sewage from every single marine organism.....

It's fine. Rivers maybe due to risk of weils but I wouldn't worry about the sea. Salt water is great for healing.

Well there is that but it’s well documented how bad the sea is around the uk so I’d be more concerned about that

Why would you be more concerned about human sewage? It is documented because it is under control of water authorities, and they are monitored to ensure they are disposing of sewage properly.

The natural contaminants are not monitored, no one is responsible for them. Every marine animal is disposing of their waste into the sea water. There is also toxic algae, which blooms and cycles naturally.

Sea water is FULL of bacteria, or many sorts, many of which are pathogens.

It is really weird that people are so oblivious to this

No. Sea will heal it.

Why would you be more concerned about human sewage? It is documented because it is under control of water authorities, and they are monitored to ensure they are disposing of sewage properly.

But they don't. The fines aren't a deterrent. Surfers Against Sewage exists for a reason.