DOH-Lee warns of multiple red tide blooms

The Department of Health in Lee County is warning of red tide blooms in the Gulf of Mexico.

This affects areas near Lynn Hall Beach Park, Tarpon Bay Road Beach Access, Lover’s Key State Park, Lighthouse Beach Park and Bonita Springs Beach Park.

You could experience some short-lived respiratory systems such as nose, throat and eye irritation that feels similar to cold symptoms. Those individuals that suffer from breathing problems may experience more severe symptoms.

Luckily, symptoms do often go away after once leaving the area and going inside. Health officials actually recommend going into an air-conditioned space if you’re experiencing symptoms.

If the symptoms don’t subside, contact your doctor for assistance.

Additional guidance from the health department:

• Do not swim around dead fish at this location.

•  If you have chronic respiratory problems, be careful and consider staying away from this location as red tide can affect your breathing.

• Do not harvest or eat molluscan shellfish and distressed or dead fish from this location. If fish are healthy, rinse fillets with tap or bottled water and throw out the guts.

• Keep pets and livestock away from water, seafoam and dead sea life.

• Residents living in beach areas are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner (making sure that the A/C filter is maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications).

• If outdoors, residents may choose to wear paper filter masks, especially if onshore winds are blowing.

To view additional areas with red tide blooms, visit this website.

Florida Poison Control Centers has a 24/7 hotline for effects from red tide. To access it, call 1-800-222-1222.