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Snake Encounters

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Author Article
ck1



Joined: 04 Jan 2003
Articles: 9
Comments: 0
Location: Mesa
 Posted: 8/24/2003, 11:03 pm

Coiled a few feet off the trail, almost hidden is a snake. You’ve noticed it, so, rather than take a picture and keep on walking, you opt of course to mess with it. So, you find yourself a decent length stick and decided the most prudent as well as intelligent thing to do is to poke at the snake. Following this line of logic, you’re stunned when the snake becomes agitated and begins to rattle its tail. Still not getting the hint, you don’t back up and wham! It nails you in the leg! Being the well prepared hiker, you quickly whip our your handy snakebite kit and, not having bothered to read how to use it, you use the rather sharp razor blade to slice across the bite area and then you try the suction thingy which breaks. So you convince your hiking partner to suck the venom out. After a few minutes of your partner spitting out your blood, the two of you frantically begin searching for the snake, so you can subdue it and bring it with you to the emergency room so the doctors know which anti-venom to administer

Congrats, you’ve done just about everything wrong after a snake encounter. Let’s pretend for a moment that you didn’t try messing with the snake. According to Arizona Game and Fish, most snakebite occurs on the hand and arms. Presumably, this would be from the victim’s hands/arms being in close proximity to the snake. Bad idea. Just leave them alone, don’t mess with them to begin with and you’ll be fine.

The Southwest has about 12 poisonous snake species, ll of which are rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes are pit vipers. This is characterized by their triangular head and yes, you guessed it, rattle on their tail. Their bite attacks blood vessels and red blood cells. (The Western Coral Snake is the non-rattler poisonous snake whose bite affects the nervous system, in case you were curious.) Much has been written about these creatures, and you can find tons of information online. A field guide such as Sierra Club or Audubon offers a wealth of information as well as cool pictures.

Spring/early Summer is prime rattlesnake time. In the event that you do experience a rattlesnake encounter, remain calm. If you see the snake, freeze, back away slowly and let the snake pass. It doesn’t want to eat you, though they are carnivores. It wants to get away, and most will retreat. Bare in mind that these are wild animals, which means they are unpredictable. Chances are the snake will get out of the area. There is a rather cantankerous Mohave Rattlesnake just past the saddle of the Granite Mountain trail in Prescott. A few HAZ members have met it. This guy likes to make sure you know he’s boss and consequently takes his sweet time retreating. But he does go away. Be patient.

In the event that you do have a negative encounter with a rattlesnake…
DO NOT DO THE FOLLOWING:
DO NOT CUT INTO THE BITE AND SUCTION OUT THE VENOM
DO NOT APPLY ICE TO THE PUNCTURE WOUND.
DO NOT TRY TO KILL OR CAPTURE THE SNAKE

The venom from a pit viper will seal itself off for 12 hours. This means that it won’t spread for about 12 hours. Cutting into the skin allows the venom to spread more quickly. Plus, cutting yourself up isn’t fun or healthy. The suction device is debatable. It might work; it might not. Cody Ludin, director of the Aboriginal Skills School in Prescott (you might have seen him in Backpacker Magazine) has observed the suction process after a scorpion bite. He said not to cut the skin, but try applying a suction device such as those made by Sawyer. Again, you make the call.

Ice is more likely to cause frostbite than to provide you with any real benefit.

There is no need to try to capture the snake. Aside from being both difficult and dangerous, it is rather foolish. The doctors at the emergency room only need to know a description, such as “It rattled”. The snake serves no purpose to the care providers. Now, this point can be debated, in fact, my Audubon Field Guide to the Southwest suggest that the dead snake be brought with to the emergency room “if possible”. Several other sources contradict this recommendation. You make the call. If you want to try to catch the snake, good luck.

Here’s what you need to try to do. In the event that it is someone other than you who is bitten, treat the victim for shock. If you don’t know what this means, you should. You should also be certified in Standard First and CPR. You should carry first aid at all times and know how to use it. Shock is described as a general depression of the body’s functions. Some symptoms include: pale, cold, or clammy skin; a quick, weak heartbeat; fast, short respiration and dilated pupils. Treat shock by keeping the victim quiet and comfortable. Try to stabilize body temperature…shade the victim. Provide water. Treat the strike victim for shock and send someone for help. If the victim is able, you can move slowly toward the most likely place to receive help. Otherwise, sit tight and wait for help. When providing aide in the backcountry, remember the rules: DO NO HARM, TRY TO HELP, BUT DO NO HARM.

If you’re solo, you need to posses the skills to save yourself. You should also be certified in Standard First and CPR. You should carry first aid at all times and know how to use it. You might consider becoming certified as an EMT or Wilderness First Responder. Solo hikers have more responsibility in that they can’t rely on others to save them. If you’re out on your own and are bitten, remain calm. Easier said than done, but regulating your own breathing is the first step. Next, you need to assess your situation. You need to determine the best route to get yourself to civilization. Stay on the trail. In the event that you can’t make it out you’ll be harder to find if you go off-trail. Chances are you will be able to walk yourself to help. Remember, you have 12 hours. Twelve hours is a long time to get yourself some help. You do need to be treated in an emergency facility. Treatment will probably include anti-venom, antibiotics and a tetanus shot. Swelling occurs in some situations. Sometimes this swelling can be freakishly severe. Rarely is a snake bite fatal. In fact, about half of bites from pit vipers result in no venom being administered.

Please consider this information cursory. Educate yourself. Don’t rely on others to provide you what you need, whether it is information or assistance on the trail. Be prepared and remember...

The Journey is the Destination

Colin (ck1)
Rating: 0.00/5.00 [0]

Author Comments
Daryl



Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Articles: 2
Comments: 2
Location: Everett, Washington
 Posted: 8/26/2003, 11:25 am  Post subject:

Great article Colin.

A few notes to add:

60-90% of snake bites happen after someone picked it up or tried to pick it up. Picking up a venomous snake is stupid (it's not cool or brave). If you do stupid things you are stupid.

The Mohave Rattler venem attacks the nervous system also, which means you'll have less time to get help. A full injection of mohave venem could kill you in minutes. They are also more aggressive then other rattlers.

You do not ice a snake bite because by aplying ice you increase the blood flow to that area. If you have venem in you, you do not want blood moving faster in that area.

Anitvenem only works once. If you've been bit before and have taken the antivenem, you may want to be extra careful!

If you have been bit, prepare for the swelling that will probably happen. Cut your pant leg, remove your watch, take off your shoe... Once you swell up they won't be easy to get off.

And my favorite fact: More people die of spousal abuse then from snake bites. Who should you be more afraid of?
Rating: 0.00/5.00 [0]
Daryl



Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Articles: 2
Comments: 2
Location: Everett, Washington
 Posted: 8/26/2003, 11:25 am  Post subject:

Great article Colin.

A few notes to add:

60-90% of snake bites happen after someone picked it up or tried to pick it up. Picking up a venomous snake is stupid (it's not cool or brave). If you do stupid things you are stupid.

The Mohave Rattler venem attacks the nervous system also, which means you'll have less time to get help. A full injection of mohave venem could kill you in minutes. They are also more aggressive then other rattlers.

You do not ice a snake bite because by aplying ice you increase the blood flow to that area. If you have venem in you, you do not want blood moving faster in that area.

Anitvenem only works once. If you've been bit before and have taken the antivenem, you may want to be extra careful!

If you have been bit, prepare for the swelling that will probably happen. Cut your pant leg, remove your watch, take off your shoe... Once you swell up they won't be easy to get off.

And my favorite fact: More people die of spousal abuse then from snake bites. Who should you be more afraid of?
Rating: 0.00/5.00 [0]
 

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