09/20/07 Rattlesnake Bites

My son returned from a hunting trip where he packed into a remote setting on horseback. The number of rattlesnakes he encountered made me curious if any new research existed on treating snake bites. Apparently medical help ASAP remains the best response but in Tommy's situation, deep in back country that's impossible so experts recommend washing the bite with soap and water, removing tight clothing and immobilizing the area lower than the heart. A snake kit called a Sawyer extractor can suck some venom out. The big no's are incisions, tourniquets,and antivenin in the field, ice and alcohol. Despite being the cowboy way a swig of whiskey only aggravates the situation by speeding up the metabolism when it is critical to remain calm and remember that 25 percent of the rattlesnake bites are dry and most are not fatal, very few individuals die. The trick, hard for boys (of all ages) is to leave rattlesnakes alone, one poor chap got bit from the severed head he had cut off even after being decapitated the snake head can bite for up to an hour.