Snake bite treatment?

[hollowdweller]

I used to hunt rattlesnakes with my grandfather for the sweetwater rattlesnake roundup. None of use ever got bit, but we all had close calls at some point in time. Something we had heard was that if you couldn't get to the hospital in time to use a stun gun, because the venom was an electrolyte and the stun gun would destroy the venom. I don't know if it really worked or not. No one ever got bit so no one got zapped.

My friend I previously referred to tried this but he used an electric fencer. He was bit twice and he said the electric seemed to have no effect.

 

[Lycosa]

I would like to see Rattlesnake round ups come to an end.

 

[Don Rearic]

After decades of these events, have they even put a dent in the rattlesnake population, let alone caused something so minimal as decimation?

 

[SOUTHSTAR]

This will probably sound stupid but say for example you are bit by a good sized rattler or a water mocasin , if you could not get treatment because you were too far away would you die or just have a lot of pain while it ran it's course?

I know the tiapan or maybe cobras or something will deffinately leave you dead but with rattlers or mocasins what would be the result?

 

[j williams]

I'm glad you are a ParaMedic and said that. When I have said it in the past, they have thrown gasoline on me and lit me on fire in here.

Yeah....Reason being is that its one of those things that cant hurt. Ive heard they work, the teach us about them....and other then that, I just cant responsably reccomend that people use some of the stuff thats been out there. Like cutting open a bite, sucking out venom with mouth, electric shock, using constricting bands, etc etc... Those just go against everything Ive been taught and understand about appropriate tx.

Its hard to explain to people that they just need to remain calm, avoid taking meds, and get help. If some people arent proactive(IE doing something) then they feel they arent doing anything, even though they are doing more then they know by just staying calm, and using a bandanna, and monitoring their well being, if that makes sence. If people need more then that, then all I recomend is the Sawyer. Cause....well it cant hurt, and maybe its gonna pull some venom out, maybe not, but it tends to have a calming effect, when you are doing something...which will help more then alot of stuff in this situation.

Sorry for the ramble....

 

[dartanyon]

Depends on the nature of the venom.

Here in Australia, just about all our snakes are elapids with neurotoxic venom.

The current medical advice over here is to strap the limb with a compression bandage about as tight as you would for a sprained ankle. This will slow the transport of the venom and buy you some time to get to a hospital where the correct antivenom will be administered once the snake has been identified (usually by testing the traces of venom on the bandage).

Start at the top of the limb and continue down to the bite. Splint the limb to immobilise it. Try & keep the patient calm.

If the victim has received a decent wet bite (ie puncture, not graze) from one of our more venomous snakes like the Taipan, Eastern Brown, or Tiger snakes and your not in a position to get the victim to the hospital, then put the victim in a position where they can kiss their ass good bye :thumbdn:

Oh I nearly forgot ... a good idea to write down the time/date of the bite on the bandage along with a brief description of the creature if you can

Oh I nearly forgot ... a good idea to write down the time of the bite with a brief description of the snake / creature.



Kind regards
Mick

Good on ya mick :thumbup: I thought I'd see your input. I've never experienced a spider or snakebite but after the amout of training I've done I hope I'e got the bandages at hand ... I went out on a big patrol yesterday and still make sure I've got a couple of bandages in my bumbag. My buddy said he saw a big brown slither across the track behind me

I nearly forgot ... write down the time/date on the bandage along with a brief description of the creature if you can

 

[BlackHills]

This will probably sound stupid but say for example you are bit by a good sized rattler or a water mocasin , if you could not get treatment because you were too far away would you die or just have a lot of pain while it ran it's course?

There are too many variables involved to give an easy answer.....where you're bit, how much venom it injects, your health, etc. But, I think it's safe to assume that the vast majority of people who get bit and don't get any treatment survive, though they could end up with permanent damage. One link I found said approximately 8000 people get bitten and on average less than 10 die each year.