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EXTRA: Rattlesnake Bite Survival Guide
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by tigers9 on June 26, 2008
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I really like this comment ;-)
Z
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<< Please do NOT bring the snake to the Emergency Room.
>>
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http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_9684638?source=most_emailed
EXTRA: Rattlesnake Bite Survival Guide
Sun-News report
Article Launched: 06/25/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT
The immediate response to a rattlesnake bite is to get to a medical facility as quickly as possible. You may need to call an ambulance, but if you are in the wilderness and far from help, have someone drive you to a medical facility. Time is precious.
Don't waste time trying to catch the snake — this may result in another bite or another victim. Please do NOT bring the snake to the Emergency Room.
What NOT to do...
There are many myths in the treatment of rattler bites. Here is a short list of what not to do if someone is bitten. All these actions may worsen tissue damage or cause complications from rattlesnake bite.
* DO NOT APPLY TOURNIQUET OR TIGHT BAND.
* DO NOT APPLY COLD PACKS OR ICE TO THE SKIN. IT DOES NOT PREVENT OR SLOW SPREAD OF VENOM
* DO NOT MAKE INCISIONS OVER FANG WOUNDS OR USE MOUTH SUCTION.
* DO NOT APPLY PRESSURE DRESSINGS.
* DO NOT APPLY ELECTRIC SHOCK.
* DO NOT CONSUME ALCOHOL, CAFFEINE, ASPIRIN OR ANYTHING BY MOUTH.
What really works...
Not only can you survive a rattlesnake bite, but you can lesson complications and tissue damage by following these simple rules.
* MOVE VICTIM AWAY FROM SNAKE'S STRIKING DISTANCE TO AVOID
FURTHER BITES.
* KEEP VICTIM DOWN, STILL AND CALM.
* REMOVE ALL CONSTRICTIVE CLOTHING OR JEWELRY FROM EXTREMITIES AS SWELLING WILL BE A PROBLEM.
* LOOSELY IMMOBILIZE EXTREMITY.
* KEEP BITTEN AREA BELOW HEART LEVEL, BUT DON'T ALLOW IT TO HANG DOWN.
* TRANSPORT VICTIM IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST MEDICAL FACILITY WITH
* RATTLESNAKE ANTIVENIN. LINCOLN HOSPITAL DOES KEEP THIS ON HAND.
* MARK ADVANCEMENT OF SWELLING WITH INDELIBLE MARKER EVERY 15 MINUTES.
* IF ABLE, CALL 911 TO ALERT HOSPITAL AND OTHER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
* TO YOUR SITUATION. THEY CAN GIVE YOU DIRECTIONS, ADVICE AND PREPARE FOR YOUR ARRIVAL.
Source: Lincoln Hospital District #3, Washington
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RE: EXTRA: Rattlesnake Bite Survival Guide
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by JoeCrotalid on June 27, 2008
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Nothing will clear an Emergency room faster than a live snake-venomous or not. I have had multiple cases where the patient has arrived with or been transported by EMS with the snake. Some of the more memorable have included:
1) Two intoxicated gentleman arrive to the front desk claiming one has been bitten by a coral snake. When asked to give a description of the snake, the second man reached into the cargo pocket of his pants and pulled a foot long live coral snake out. This created a mass panic at the front desk. The man was escorted outside until fish and wildlife arrived to take the snake.
2) The second was a gentleman who arrived holding a pillow case stating he had been bitten by a rattlesnake. He proceeded to dump the snake onto the floor stating there he is but I killed him. This held true until the stunned snake began to move and coil into a defensive posture. I was summoned from the ED to come to the front desk because of the snakebite patient and told he had a live snake with him only to find the 2 1/2 foot EDB coiled in front of the desk. Luckily I carry a collapsible hook in my bag and was able to place the snake into a large grabage can until Fish and Wildlife came to collect it.
3) and most recently, EMS transported the patient to the ED with the live coral snake in a glass jar. I was called over from the poison center to give a positive ID. When I arrived, a couple of nurses said they were going to remove it from the jar in order to decapitate it. I grabbed the jar and advised them that I would take the snake to release back into the wild. When asked why they shouldn't kill it-I explained that removing it placed them at risk for a bite, and that the snake only bit the patient in defense and shouldn't be punished for self defense. I successfully released the snake back into the wild later that evening after finishing my shift at the poison center.
Although Identification of species is important when it comes to North American Crotalidae, it is not really important since treatment can be given based on symptoms and uses the same AV unlike exotic species that require specific AV. A coral snake I might be more inclined to see brought since bites by mimics are possible and AV can be held if the snake is positively ID'd as nonvenomous.
Another case that comes to mind was a teenager bitten by what was ID'd as a Pygmy rattlesnake at another facility. They transffered him to our facility with the dead snake. When I looked into the cooler at the snake I asked where the pygmy rattlesnake was, and the EMS crew said it's right there. I said that is not a Pygmy but a juvenile EDB. The patient had been given no AV to this point and his coags were off the scale. The patient took a total of 18 vials of CroFab before control was acheived and he could be placed on the maintenance doses.
So I say that statement is 50/50 because sometimes ID is important in making sure the patient is treated correctly. I actually tried to get the EMS crews to start carrying cameras to take pictures of the snakes instead of bringing them, but many EMS companies say they don't have the money to purchase cameras which I find hard to believe. So use your dam camera phone instead-everyone seems to have one.
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