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If You're Bitten
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by Jahon on July 10, 2007
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Hi guys, if you get bit by a venomous snake, what does the ambulance do when they get to you and you are standing outside your house. Weird question, I was arguing with my brother and I want to know what would they do.
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RE: If You're Bitten
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by Cro on July 10, 2007
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Jahon, that could depend a whole lot on where you live.
How about filling out more of your profile as to what part of the conuntry you live in, that way we will have a better idea of what your chance of competent first treatment that you might recieve is.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: If You're Bitten
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by thedude on July 10, 2007
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They would hi-five each other for getting the chance to work on such a relatively rare and unusual case.
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RE: If You're Bitten
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by Jahon on July 10, 2007
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I have rubers in my area, and I actually had one for a little while before I released it. I live in Southern California. I highly doubt I'm going to get bit for any reason because they are just so mild mannered. But I was just being curious as to what the ambulance does when they arrive.
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RE: If You're Bitten
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by BlackShadow on July 10, 2007
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In Southern California they would probably look for the TV cameras first.
Then they would all rush out and get fast Brite Smile treatments, like all the folks on Survivor do before the show.
Then they would haul you off to Loma Linda and call Sean Bush, to inhance their chance of being on TV.
Then Sean would ride in on his mustang, gun belt loaded with CroFab, poney tail flapping in the wind, camera rolling, and he would shoot you up with vial after vial of that pretty much worthless antivenom.
And you would probably survive, because if you croaked, it would make him look bad on TV.
And the hospital would send you a bill for $230,000.00 for messing with a rattlesnake.
Thats what they would do.
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RE: If You're Bitten
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by Parcelmouth on July 10, 2007
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There are some EMT and medical personnel on this site who might be able to give a better answer. However from my reading and study. Anti venom can only be administered in a hospital more specifically in ICU. The EMT crew would try to get as much information about the bite as possible, provided the bitten person was conscious. As to find out details of the bite. When did the bite occur, what species delivered the bite. With U.S. native pit viper envenomation there is usually a lot of edema and pain. However some species produce a variety of classic neurotoxic symptoms as well. So The EMT's should also be on the look out of these as well.
The EMT's will basically be able to give an envenomated person supportive care( keep there airway clear and the person breathing ,maintain vital signs, and treat for shock) while getting the person to the ER as quick as possible. They will more than likely start an I.V. line as well. Another good idea is to mark the swelling with a sharpie marker every 15 minutes noting the progression of the edema. The time of the marking should also be listed. Usually they draw a line around the swelling and mark the time on that line.
As far as I have read there are no truly proven beneficial first aid treatments for envenomation. The only treatment is antivenom and this is usually only administered in the ICU of a hospital.
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RE: If You're Bitten
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by Buzztail1 on July 10, 2007
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Unfortunately, only John and J.S. Harrison saw fit to give you an appropriate answer.
There are qualified EMTs on this site and I hope one of them will have the time to give you a real insight into what happens.
Karl
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RE: If You're Bitten
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by FLherp on July 11, 2007
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While it is true that the primary treatment in the field for a venomous snakebite is first aid, paramedics can also start an IV (helps to prevent shock due to fluid shift, this is one thing that incapacitates little critters fed on by venomous snakes) and place the patient on a heart monitor. There is no definitive field treatment for envenomations and antivenom should be given under a doctor's orders in a hospital. The ER will do, as in the case of strokes (now brain attacks) and heart attacks, rapid treatment will yield much better outcomes. As Sean Bush states it, "Time is Tissue."
Although there is no definitive field care, there are some treatments that can be harmful - ice, tourniquets, electric shock, alcohol, cutting and sucking the injury, etc. These can exacerbate an injury or even cause injury in the absence of an envenomation. They should be avoided.
My preference is to mark the edema every four inches, with the time the marks were made. Every fifteen minutes works nicely if the swelling is progressing rapidly, otherwise the lines look like a relief map of the Himalayas. Four inches is used because the width of a hand is about four inches (purloined from horse folk). This measurement can give a good indication of the severity of the envenomation, more rapidly advancing edema - more severe envenomation.
EMTs and Paramedics can drive to the ER with lights and sirens, it helps...
Jeff
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RE: If You're Bitten
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by Cro on July 11, 2007
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Jeff, when you say "paramedics can also start an IV (helps to prevent shock due to fluid shift)."
I am wondering just which way the fluid shift is going?
Are we talking about fluids in or out of cells, or fluid in or out of the blood stream ?
And just what is in that IV ? Is it a normal saline, or glucose, or does it involve electrolytes and perhaps pottasium and calcium ?
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: If You're Bitten
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by Jahon on July 11, 2007
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I live 10 minutes away from the Loma Linda Hospital. =) No but seriously I was not saying I'm going to get bit, I was just being curious as to what procedures the paramedics follow.
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