Health Guide
Surfing Injuries
Surfing Injuries
Sea Lice (Seabather's Eruption): The Itchy Rash After Swimming in Arugam Bay
That itchy rash under your rash vest after a swim isn't fleas or bugs in your bed. Here's what seabather's eruption actually is and how to treat it.
6 min read
Surfing Injuries
Fish Hook Injuries in Arugam Bay: Safe Removal and When to See Us
Fish hooks turn up on beach paths, boat yards, and tackle near the harbour in Arugam Bay. Here's safe first aid, why barbed hooks need a clinic, and when to come in.
7 min read
Surfing Injuries
Contact Lenses in Arugam Bay: Surfing, Salt Water, and Infection Risk
Wearing contacts while you surf in Arugam Bay? Here's the real risk — corneal infection from lagoon and salt water — and how to wear lenses safely on a surf trip.
7 min read
Surfing Injuries
Neck and Spinal Injuries After a Surfing Wipeout in Arugam Bay: Red Flags and What Not to Do
A hard wipeout onto a sandbar or reef can injure the neck or spine. Here's how to tell a strain from a red flag, what never to do, and when to call 1990.
7 min read
Surfing Injuries
Sea Snakes in Arugam Bay's Waters: What Surfers and Swimmers Need to Know
Sea snakes are common off Arugam Bay but bites are extremely rare. Here's how to spot one safely, what to do if you see one, and when a bite needs urgent care.
6 min read
Surfing Injuries
Surfboard Fin Cuts: When You Need Stitches in Arugam Bay
Fin cuts are clean, deep, and nothing like a reef cut. Here's how to tell one that needs a plaster from one that needs stitches, and what we do about it.
7 min read
Surfing Injuries
Jammed Fingers, Dislocations, and Thumb Sprains From Surfing in Arugam Bay
A finger jammed on the rail or a thumb caught in the leash is common in Arugam Bay and easy to get wrong. Here's how to tell sprain from dislocation from fracture.
7 min read
Surfing Injuries
Wrist Sprains and Fractures From Surfing Wipeouts in Arugam Bay
A hand braced against the sand or reef on a hard wipeout is one of the most common ways surfers hurt themselves in Arugam Bay. Sprain or fracture, here's how to tell.
8 min read
Surfing Injuries
Broken Nose and Facial Injuries After a Wipeout in Arugam Bay
A board, fin, or reef to the face is one of the most common surfing injuries we see. Here's how to tell a broken nose from bruising, and when facial swelling means come in now.
7 min read
Surfing Injuries
Bruised or Fractured Ribs After a Wipeout: What Surfers Need to Know in Arugam Bay
A heavy wipeout onto your board or the reef can bruise or crack a rib. Here's how to tell the difference, why breathing matters more than X-rays, and when to come in.
7 min read
Surfing Injuries
Surfer's Eye (Pterygium): Why Years in the Sun, Wind, and Salt Water Take a Toll on Your Eyes
Pterygium, or 'surfer's eye', is a slow-growing tissue overgrowth caused by years of UV, wind, and salt exposure. Here's how to spot it early and protect your eyes.
6 min read
Surfing Injuries
Stepping on a Nail, Glass, or Fish Hook: Puncture Wounds in Arugam Bay
Nails, glass, sea urchin spines, and fish hooks are common on Arugam Bay's beach paths. Here's why small puncture wounds need more care than cuts, and when you need a tetanus shot.
7 min read
Surfing Injuries
Suspected Fractures in Arugam Bay: X-Rays, Splinting, and What Happens Next
A hard landing, a scooter spill, or a bad step on the reef can break a bone. Here's how we tell a fracture from a sprain, arrange an X-ray, and what treatment looks like.
8 min read
Surfing Injuries
Ankle and Knee Sprains: Surf and Reef-Walk Injuries in Arugam Bay
A rolled ankle on the reef walk or a twisted knee popping up too fast are two of the most common surf injuries we see. Here's how to tell a sprain from a break.
8 min read
Surfing Injuries
Stingray and Stonefish Stings in Arugam Bay: The Hot-Water First Aid That Actually Works
Stepped on something in the shallows? Stingray and stonefish stings are painful but treatable. Here's the hot-water first aid, and how to tell when it's an emergency.
7 min read
Surfing Injuries
Head Injuries and Concussion After a Surfing Wipeout in Arugam Bay
A hard wipeout at Main Point or Peanut Farm can mean more than a knock — here's how to recognise concussion, what to do in the first hours, and when to come in.
7 min read
Surfing Injuries
Surfer's Shoulder and Lower Back Pain: The Overuse Injuries We See in Arugam Bay
Weeks of paddling and pop-ups take a toll on shoulders and lower backs. Here's why surfers get this pain in Arugam Bay, how to manage it, and when to get it checked.
7 min read
Surfing Injuries
Surfer's Ear: Why Your Ears Hurt After Months of Surfing
Repeated cold-water exposure causes bone growth in the ear canal. Here's what surfer's ear is, how to prevent it, and what to do if you have it.
5 min read
Surfing Injuries
Sea Urchin Spines: Removal, Aftercare, and When to See a Doctor
Stepped on a sea urchin? Here's how to remove the spines safely, when home removal won't work, and when to come in.
5 min read
Surfing Injuries
Jellyfish Stings on Sri Lanka's East Coast: First Aid That Actually Works
Most of what you've heard about treating jellyfish stings is wrong. Here's what to do in Arugam Bay, with treatment based on the species you're likely to encounter.
5 min read
Surfing Injuries
Reef Cuts: How to Treat Them and Why Infection Is the Real Danger
Coral and reef cuts get infected fast in tropical water. Here's how to clean a reef cut properly and recognise when you need stitches or antibiotics.
6 min read