Re:Rattlesnakes - People Care

[flemmerl@rcbhsc.wvu.edu (Flemmer, Linda)]

Dbeverly4@aol.com wrote:
>   Anybody have some productive suggestions for a human
> snake-bite victim?

I talked to our Emergency Department this morning when I saw the post. 
Here is their recommendations:

Rattlesnake venom, like all snake venom, is comprised of a neurotoxin
and a tissue destroyer.  The neurotoxin damages the nerves.  The other
component "dissolves & digests" the tissue.  Different variety of snakes
have differnet ratios of the two components.  Rattlesnake bites tend to
show more tissue destruction than nerve damage, and often become
infected.

WHAT TO DO:

1)  DO NOT PANIC!  (Yeah, right.)
2)  Try to keep your heart rate down to reduce the amount of venom
that's absorbed and circulated.  No running, screaming, etc.  
3)  Send help to get you transportation, or proceed slowly to help.
4)  If the snake is dead, you may want to bring it with you for the
Emergency Department to identify.  (BTW - The ED Director said to tell
you that they don't want the <live snakes>, thanks!)  Remember that a
dead snake can still strike out of reflexes if he's freshly killed. 
Don't risk additional bites picking him up.
5)  DO NOT USE A TOURNIQUETTE!!!!!!  A tourniquette cuts off all blood
supply to the limb.  You are at greater risk of causing yourself
irreversible damage by using the tourniquette.  Tourniquettes should
only be used when you fully intend to sacrifice the limb to save a life!
6)  Do NOT "suck out the poison".  It is an old wife's tale.  The poison
is diffuse - you won't get any out.  By "cutting" to "suck out the
poison", you increase blood flow to the area, increasing the uptake of
the venom instead.  At the same time, you are introducing bacteria into
the area.  The worst infections in snakebites are typically the ones
that have had "first aid".
7)  You may or may not get antivenom at the Emergency Department...  It
depends on the number of bites, your size, age, and general health.  You
probably WILL get antibiotics and be observed for a while.
8)  Expect some pretty phenomenal swelling for about a week to ten
days.  Ice and elevation will help the most with this.

Linda Flemmer
A nurse who hasn't had to do snake-bite first aid ever!  (and doesn't
want to start!)


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