The summer months are upon us, and hiking around in nature is a must! Hopefully your summer outings are filled with fun and enjoyable moments, but have you thought about what possible “un-enjoyable” moments could arise, and how you’d handle them? According to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), 7000 to 8000 people are bitten by rattlesnakes every year. Thankfully, most of these people survive because of the widespread availability of rattlesnake anti-venom.
First and foremost, avoiding dangerous encounters with snakes is a must when out in nature. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) recommends staying out of tall grass areas, but if this is unavoidable, use a long stick to walk through such areas. In addition, wearing appropriate clothing, such as long pants and heavy duty boots, is important to prevent snake and other small critter bites.
The CDC also explains that rattlesnake poison is composed of a hemotoxin and a neurotoxin. A hemotoxin is a substance that disrupts the membranes of blood cells and tissues, rendering them functionless. A neurotoxin works on nerve endings by disrupting the transmission of neuron signals. According to the CDC, one of the more common signs of rattlesnake venom poisoning is the appearance of a pair of visible teeth marks with severe pain, redness, and swelling. Furthermore, nausea, shortness of breath, increased salivation, and sweating can also occur.
Rattlesnake encounters may be unlikely, but proper care is necessary in the event of a bite.
Image Source: Kristian Bell
The DoD recommends that if you are ever out in the wilderness, and a rattlesnake bites someone, you must transport him or her to the nearest hospital immediately. Although popularly seen in movies, you should not try to suck out the venom. Sucking out the venom can make you sick, as it can be absorbed through the skin in your mouth. The Mayo Clinic indicates that any person who is bitten should not drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages as this can increase heart rate and distribute the venom throughout the body faster.
Once at a hospital, the patient will be treated with anti-venom, a substance that reverses the effects of snake venom by directly attaching to the toxin, rendering it unable to cause more damage. According to John Hopkins Medical Center, these anti-venoms are horse or sheep antibodies that specifically bind to rattlesnake venom and are effective in most people. However, some people can be allergic to animal proteins, so patients treated for rattlesnake poisoning with antibodies are closely monitored for adverse reactions.
Hopefully, you’ll never encounter such a worrisome situation. However, if you ever do, understand how serious rattlesnake poisoning is and ensure the victim’s immediate transport to a hospital. If you are interested in learning more about how to differentiate between the different kinds of poisonous snakes, I recommend checking out this pictorial key by the CDC.
