Snake bites...

[Richbat]

I know this most likely has been covered but how do you all handle snake bites if and when bitten?I have seen so many different views on the subject and to be honest,not really even sure most folks would even know what to do,including myself.

 

[Codger_64]

It depends on the snake. And then where you are. And who is with you or if alone. If you are certain it was venomous, go to the hospital after identifying the species. Antivenom isn't cheap so they will likely want to be sure of the species and that it was not a dry bite. Which most are. Latest wisdom is to not cut-n-suck or use tourniquets. Loosen restrictive clothing, remain calm and send for help if you are any distance from transportation.

 

[Hammer67]

If at all possible, get to a hospital asap. There really isn't much you can do in the field, despite all the talk about suction kits, etc. - an envenomation requires anitvenin. And I would consider this resource definitive:

http://nols.blogs.com/nols_news/2011/07/snake-envenomations-in-north-america.html

(Excerpted):

Treatment Principles
• Scene Safety! Try to identify the snake, but not if it puts anyone at risk.
• Keep yourself and the patient calm.
• Avoid walking.
• Remove constricting clothing and jewelry from the bite site.
• Consider pain medications.
• Monitor for signs of envenomation.
• Splint the extremity. Avoid elevating the injury.
Pit Viper Bites (Rattlesnake)
• Measure and monitor swelling.
Coral Snakes (Elapids)
• A wide elastic bandage (pressure immobilization bandage) wrapped distal to proximal as tight as an ankle wrap.

DO NOT:
• Cut and suck, use a suction device, apply ice.
• Use electricity, a tourniquet or constricting band on pit viper bites.

And excerpted from the Merck Manual:

"In the field, remove the patient out of striking distance from the snake, arrange rapid transport to the nearest medical facility, wrap a bitten limb loosely, immobilize it in a position at about heart level, and remove constricting devices such as rings and watches; do not incise bite wounds or apply tourniquets."

"Along with aggressive supportive care, antivenom is the mainstay of treatment for patients with anything more than the mildest envenomation grade."

 

[Codger_64]

And watch for shock. From envenomation or, most likely, just from anxiety.

 

[Woods Walker]

I know this most likely has been covered but how do you all handle snake bites if and when bitten?I have seen so many different views on the subject and to be honest,not really even sure most folks would even know what to do,including myself.

This is a classic case of an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. I give them space and let um leave.

[video=youtube;kmehI-HT7dg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmehI-HT7dg[/video]

 

[Codger_64]

This is a classic case of an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. I give them space and let um leave...

Well yeah. Stats show that many are bitten messing with them, trying to pick them up or kicking them. Or reaching into dark places, stepping blindly over logs or in thick brush. Situational awareness goes a long way toward prevention.

 

[mtangent]

I know this most likely has been covered but how do you all handle snake bites if and when bitten?I have seen so many different views on the subject and to be honest,not really even sure most folks would even know what to do,including myself.

It will depend a bit which continent you are on. I believe you have been given good advice for North America.

As an example of something different, in Australia just walking to the car can be a death sentence, as the muscular action pumps the venom from the periphery to the central circulation. Using firm pressure bandages & lying still can keep a person alive for days sometimes, until help comes looking. Letting people know your plan in advance is part of snake bite risk prevention. All our venomous snakes are elapids, AFAIK.

 

[elof_alv]

It will depend a bit which continent you are on. I believe you have been given good advice for North America.

As an example of something different, in Australia just walking to the car can be a death sentence, as the muscular action pumps the venom from the periphery to the central circulation. Using firm pressure bandages & lying still can keep a person alive for days sometimes, until help comes looking. Letting people know your plan in advance is part of snake bite risk prevention. All our venomous snakes are elapids, AFAIK.

Apparently aborigines here used to just lie down and wait it out, but we have different snakes than those in US. The ones here don't have the long venom fangs, but smaller fixed teeth, I guess they compensate in venom potency...

 

[mtangent]

Apparently aborigines here used to just lie down and wait it out, but we have different snakes than those in US. The ones here don't have the long venom fangs, but smaller fixed teeth, I guess they compensate in venom potency...

I hadn't heard that. It only took 200 yrs for the new colonisers to reinvent the wheel.

 

[sideways]

You can get gaiters that are supposed to stop a snake bite. That'll reduce the risk to your legs. If you see a snake you can place your pack between you and the snake as you back away from it.

Know which areas are snake heavy and stay away from them. Don't go groping around blindly in snake country. Any hole or ledge out of sight can lead to a bite.

Control the rodent population around your home.

Stay away from dead snakes. They might just be playing dead and even if they are really dead they can still inject you with venom. The kicker is that a dead snake doesn't regulate the dose so you can actually get more messed up by a bite from a dead snake than a live one. If for some reason you do kill a snake bury the head as a favor to kids and pets in the area.

This should go without saying but do not play with snakes, especially while intoxicated. Both are major causes of snakebites.

Treatment is snake specific and will likely require professional help. If in doubt you can always place a call to emergency services before you do anything else. Identifying the snake will be important so it helps if you can describe it.

 

[Richbat]

So basically all you really need to do is stay calm,try and identify the snake if possible and seek medical attention asap,correct?

 

[Swampdog]

Last year a biologist friend was bitten by a pygmy rattlesnake on her index finger. She was working in the woods and stopped her truck to move a downed tree out of the road, when she reached to move the tree, the 18" snake on the other side bit her.
She spent four days in the ICU of the hospital, and was given 18 vials of anti-venom; approx. cost of treatment - $30,000.
The lady biologist with over 20 years of experience was wearing snake boots but no gloves.
It can happen to anyone.... watch where you walk and as others have said, stay observant.

 

[Woods Walker]

So basically all you really need to do is stay calm,try and identify the snake if possible and seek medical attention asap,correct?

And don't get tagged in the the first place. Here is another one I seen. Notice how effective the camo is.




As soon as it has any cover the breakup pattern allows this large snake to vanish.



And yes they're out at night.

 

[gadgetgeek]

Pressure immobilization is probably your best default bet when its not a known species. you are basically giving the body time to mount an immune response and deal with the poison, or slowing the venom down so that damage is limited to the affected area. Life over limb as it were. If you know its a pit viper then the pressure immobilization is probably going to hold the clotting blood into the limb, which isn't ideal. But better than dead.

Calming the patient and getting them relaxed and immobile is probably the top priority. If it was a dry bite, which it very well might be, they can still stress themselves out and cause problems. It is possible to kill someone by getting them to believe they've been killed. (not likely or easy, but possible)

 

[FTR-14c]

Just curious, what is the down side with suction devices if applied properly within seconds of the bit?
Are they just not worth the hassle even if a small amount of venom is removed?

Thanks

 

[mtangent]

Suction can burst capillarys, allowing more venom into the circulation faster. Just my opinion.

 

[sykes3170]

Bad picture, pretty snake. When I was a kid moving pipe I reached down to grab a pipe and barely missed grabbing a rattlesnake. I jumped very high to say the least. Bad move, I know, but it's hard to not get startled. There are lots of rattlesnakes in my area. I have been way to close to several and they have not struck at me. They seem pretty harmless and act like they just want to get away. I suspect that most bites originate from people grabbing, stepping on, or teasing them. One thing to note is that the last several years I think the rattlesnakes are learning to not rattle. This has happened quit often to me and family, friends. Maybe they have figured out that if they keep quite they won't be noticed?

I took this with my cell phone close to the Big southern butte near Arco idaho. I'll bet codger is familiar with this place.

 

[Woods Walker]

Just curious, what is the down side with suction devices if applied properly within seconds of the bit?
Are they just not worth the hassle even if a small amount of venom is removed?

Thanks

I don't think they actually work so that's a big downside right there. Also odds are the user will just do more tissue damage in the process. All of this is IMHO as no MD. Do however hike in snake country and don't pack those worthless suction things.

 

[Bob W]

A appreciate it when snakes give a big loud buzzy rattle in advance, way in advance.

In the US I don't worry about it at all. Even with a fang injection there's no life-or-death rush to race to the hospital. Might get sick for a while, lose some flesh, and spend a few days at the hospital.

In Australia, on the other hand... I just try not to think about it. Most of the snakes I've seen have been red-bellied blacksnakes. They are venomous, but not deadly and rarely aggressive. All the ones I've seen have raced away to hide.

I wouldn't have to worry about dying from a snakebite if I saw one of these. Probably die of fright.

Before the advent of an antivenin, there are no known survivors of a Taipan bite, and death typically occurs within an hour.​

And this is only the fifth most venomous snake. Three of the other four also live in Australia.

 

[Woods Walker]

Bad picture, pretty snake. When I was a kid moving pipe I reached down to grab a pipe and barely missed grabbing a rattlesnake. I jumped very high to say the least. Bad move, I know, but it's hard to not get startled. There are lots of rattlesnakes in my area. I have been way to close to several and they have not struck at me. They seem pretty harmless and act like they just want to get away. I suspect that most bites originate from people grabbing, stepping on, or teasing them. One thing to note is that the last several years I think the rattlesnakes are learning to not rattle. This has happened quit often to me and family, friends. Maybe they have figured out that if they keep quite they won't be noticed?

I took this with my cell phone close to the Big southern butte near Arco idaho. I'll bet codger is familiar with this place.

I have also noticed they don't always rattle. Almost stepped on one because of this. The snake could have tagged me as was within easy striking distance but it didn't. Most critters aren't looking for trouble though sometimes people are. LOL! They're really hard to see unless your eye has picked them out. I know that's a silly thing to say but their patterns seem to override the passing eye's "oh that's a snake" ID often.