|
1-10 of 16 messages
|
Page 1 of 2
Next
|
|
Worst Place to take a Hit
|
Reply
|
|
by IanG on June 25, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hi,
Bone Question #237..
I know you get loads of stuipid questions if this is one applogies, but where would you say is the worst place to bet bitten by a snake, for example on the face, the arm etc..is it worse to be bit near the heart..also if you got bit on the skull, would the venom spread slower due to less tissue..
regards
IanG
|
| |
|
RE: Worst Place to take a Hit
|
Reply
|
|
by BGF on June 25, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Thats actually quite a reasonable question. The best place to get hit would be at the tips of the hands or feet and then with proper pressure-immobilisation bandages applied immediately. If you get bitten on the chest then obviously a pressure bandage is out. A mate of mine got bit on the neck by a good sized Pseudechis porphyriacus (Red-bellied black snake). Not good.
Cheers
Bryan
|
| |
|
RE: Worst Place to take a Hit
|
Reply
|
|
by LarryDFishel on June 25, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I'm certainly not an expert on the subject, but here's my take. Like Brian said, anywhere other than the extremeties is bad because there's nothing you can do to slow the spread of venom. Also, anywhere around the head or neck is particularly bad with a venom that causes swelling because it can cause the throat to swell shut. On the other hand, a lucky bite directly into a large vein, anywhere, could be even worse just because the venom would spread so fast throughout the body. On the third hand, might that be ideal for something like a mild copperhead bite? (Agkistrodon, not Austrelaps)
|
| |
|
RE: Worst Place to take a Hit
|
Reply
|
|
by Fabian on June 25, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I would agree with Larry and say any large vein or artery would be the worse place to take a hit.
You would not even have time to place a presser bandage if you were to take a hit in one.
|
| |
|
RE: Worst Place to take a Hit
|
Reply
|
|
by pitviperidae on June 25, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I live in Ohio, last year a man in Dayton, got bit on the hand by a Rhino Viper he was keeping. The snake was around 3ft in length, the man died, despite attempts to fly antivenom in from Miami-Dade FL. I really don't think the antivenom would of helped him. It was found later the venom went straight into a vein in his hand. The odds of this happening are very rare, but straight into a vein, is not a good place to take a hit!!
|
| |
|
RE: Worst Place to take a Hit
|
Reply
|
|
by taipan_nuts on June 26, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
The incident in Ohio was a tragedy. It's my understanding though that the man died waiting on the proper serum when it was present all along. The doctors at the hospital weren't properly informed on how to treat exotic snakebite. It would be wise for every hot keeper to have some sort of protocol in mind when keeping venomous snakes.
I also heard one testimony (which could be just heresay) stating that the man was handling his specimen improperly.
Dr. Edward J. Freyaldenhoven
|
| |
|
RE: Worst Place to take a Hit
|
Reply
|
|
by pitviperidae on June 26, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I don't want to talk bad about the guy, but yes, I have reliable information that he made a big mistake while cleaning the snakes enclosure. Bottom line..be careful and do not take short cuts...EVER!! I could be the last time you do!
|
| |
|
RE: Worst Place to take a Hit
|
Reply
|
|
by Buzztail1 on June 26, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I would like to add to "the bottom line".
One of the reports about the gentleman who died in Dayton last year said that one of the contributing factors was all the time they spent looking for antivenin for Rhinocerous Vipers.
It appears that there is no "specific" antivenin for Rhinocerous Vipers but SAIMR polyvalent which is commonly used for Gaboon Vipers is the correct antivenin for Rhinos.
It is absolutely essential that anyone keeping an exotic venomous reptile at least know what kind of antivenin they will need in case of an accident and that they have a decent protocol available when they wind up at their local hospital. A little preparation could have saved that guy's life just as it could anyone else's in an emergency.
Just a thought,
Karl
|
| |
|
RE: Worst Place to take a Hit
|
Reply
|
|
by Phobos on June 27, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hi All:
That's really sad because the National Antivenom Index (I looked just now)say's that the Metro zoo in Toledo Ohio had the correct antivenom to treat this bite. More could have been sent by a half a dozen zoo's in this area. The Philly zoo for one.
If any one wants to find out the closest stock of antivenom for the exotics (non-domestic)they keep, feel free to contact me by email (see profile). Only IF you plan to write the information into you're snakebite protocol. Otherwise your wasting my time & yours.
Best,
Al
|
| |
|
RE: Worst Place to take a Hit
|
Reply
|
|
by Phobos on June 28, 2004
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Charles Monfort's (Monforts Reptile Institute) son was bitten in the elbow by a C. horridus while out collecting. He did not see or expect the snake to be in a tree or shrub at waist height.
Al
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
