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 M¢25  Funded By Mahalo ? |  July 27, 2009 06:44 AM

What do you do if you are bitten by a rattlesnake?

OBVIOUSLY get to a hospital asap, or call an ambulance.
But in most situations you are going to be way out in the middle of nowhere when you encounter a rattler. It will probably be a couple of hours before you receive medical attention.
So what can you do to immediately stop the venom from flowing, and make sure the bite doesn't spread so you lose flesh?
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July 27, 2009 07:16 AM
Best thing is to get to a hospital; From;

http://www.medicinenet.com/snake_bites/page2.htm

"poisonous snake bites?

If someone is bitten by a poisonous snake, the bitten area should be immobilized and the victim transported to a hospital as quickly as possible. The bitten area should be washed with soap and water. A wide constriction bandage (tourniquet) may be applied two to four inches upstream of the bitten area (if on an extremity) so long as the pressure is not too tight (one or two fingers should be able to slide under the band). Overly tight tourniquets should never be used as these can block arterial blood flow to the affected area and worsen tissue damage.

Incising (cutting) and suctioning the bite area has not been shown to be beneficial, but a venom extractor (found in commercial snake bite kits) may be helpful if it is applied to the area within five minutes of the bite and left in place for 30 minutes. A 2004 study of mock venom extraction using a suction device, however, questioned the validity of venom extractors and suggested that their use is unlikely to be effective.

Ice or cooling packs should never be applied to the area as these may result in greater harm, and incisions of the bitten area are also potentially harmful and have no benefit."
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July 27, 2009 06:50 AM
As far as I know, the acidic or antibacterial properties in your pee can help to counteract the venom. There have been many, many cases where a full bladder has saved lives. =]
I hope that helps!

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Helpful: georgehembree

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July 27, 2009 07:40 AM
More rattlesnake bites occur in suburban areas which encroach on their habitat than in isolated settings, and calling 911 is the best course of action. Either way, first aid consists of washing the bite with soap and water, then immobilizing the area and keeping it below the level of the heart to slow down the spread of venom. Any tight jewelry or clothing in the area of the bite should be removed. Physical activity should be kept to a minimum.

If medical care will be unavailable for more than 30 minutes, an elastic bandage wrapped several inches above the bite may slow venom spread, and suction devices (like the ones in snakebite kits) to remove venom from the bite itself may also be effective.

Things you should NOT do include applying ice (it can worsen tissue damage from the venom) or tourniquets (cutting off blood flow completely can do the same), making cuts in the bite marks, using oral suction to remove venom, or administering alcohol.
Source(s):
http://www.desertusa.com/may96/rattlesnake2.html
http://www.westernlivingcenter.com/emergencies.htm


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