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Rattlesnakes are one of four venomous snakes found naturally in the United States. While their bites are serious, they are rarely life threatening if people take the proper steps and seek medical treatment immediately. It is essential that you know what to do and what not to do if you are entering into rattlesnake territory.
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Rattlesnake Bite Tips
- Gopher snakes will emulate rattlesnakes but are nonvenomous.
- Always take a snake bite kit with you when hiking or camping.
- Death from a poisonous snake bite is rare.
- One in four bites are dry bites, which means no venom was injected.
- Snakes can still bite for an hour after they are dead.
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What Not to Do
- As you go through the list below of steps to take when bitten by a rattlesnake, you may notice that some tips you might have heard before are absent. The fact is, several things that used to be common practice are no longer done because they can actually cause more harm than good. Therefore, it is good to know a few things you shouldn't do.
- Do not cut the area. The additional tissue damage increases the diffusion of the toxins in the body and causes excessive bleeding.North Carolina State University: Treating Snake Bites
- Do not apply ice or pack the bite in ice. Recent studies indicate that application of cold or ice will make the injury worse.Trail Blazer: Rattlesnake!
- Do not apply a tourniquet. This can cause gangrene and lead to the loss of the limb.College of Canyons: Advice on Rattlesnake Safety; Latest on Snake Bite First-Aid August 22, 2006
- Do not immerse the wound in water.CDC Natural Disasters: How to Prevent or Respond to a Snake Bite
- Do not administer alcohol or drugs (including pain medications unless a doctor advises you to do otherwise).MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Snake bites
- Do not allow the victim to drink caffeinated beverages.CDC Natural Disasters: How to Prevent or Respond to a Snake Bite
- Do not apply electric shock.College of Canyons: Advice on Rattlesnake Safety; Latest on Snake Bite First-Aid August 22, 2006
- Do not use your mouth to suck out the venom. (See When Help is Not Readily Available)
Call 911 Immediately
- While this should always be the first thing you do, it will be beneficial if you can tell the 911 operator what type of snake caused the bite (see below). However, do not delay calling for help while you look for the snake.
Identifying the Snake
- It's always helpful if you can identify the type of snake that bit you. However, do not endanger yourself while doing so. While you may feel justified in killing the snake, you should remember two things:
- The snake was acting out of defense not aggression.
- Snakes can still bite for up to an hour after death. It is a reflex action. In fact, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 15 percent of patients treated at a clinic for rattlesnake bites had been bitten by dead snakes—two were even bitten by decapitated snakes.BNET: News of the Wild - Impact Of Humans On Ecology; Bites by Dead Snakes; Birds and Coyotes; Bird Deaths Caused by Communication Towers; Birds and Pesticides (December-January 1999)
- If the snake is in a residential area and you are concerned with people's safety, call and report it to animal control at your earliest opportunity.
What to Do While Waiting for Help To Arrive
- After you have called for emergency assistance, you can do the following while waiting for help to arrive:
- Stay calm. Keep the victim calm as well.
- Have the victim lie down. If possible, raise the heart above the bite area.CDC Natural Disasters: How to Prevent or Respond to a Snake Bite
- Keep the victim as still as possible. The more the bite site is moved the more damage is done as the venom is spread through the body.Trail Blazer: Rattlesnake!
- Remove any jewelry, shoes, or tight fitting clothing near the bite area.
- Wash the bite area with soap and water.
- Apply a cold, wet cloth over the bite.College of Canyons: Advice on Rattlesnake Safety; Latest on Snake Bite First-Aid August 22, 2006 Do not apply ice.
- Keep the victim warm.North Carolina State University: Treating Snake Bites
- Monitor vital signs and watch for signs of shock.University of Maryland Medical Center: First Aid: Snake Bites
When Help is Not Readily Available
- If help is more than 30 minutes away additional steps may need to be taken. These steps include:
- Immobilize the extremity with a splint or similar device.
- Using a scarf or belt, apply a constricting band about two inches above the bite. Band should be between the bite and the heart. This will lymphatic flow, not blood.North Carolina State University: Treating Snake Bites Here are a few guidelines when applying this procedure:
- You should be able to slip one finger between the skin and the band.
- You should be able to feel a pulse in the limb below the band.
- Loosen the band for a minute every 15 to 20 minutes.
- Readjust the bands if necessary because of swelling.North Carolina State University: Treating Snake Bites
- If the victim needs to walk out of an area, wait 20 to 30 minutes. This will let the venom localize at the site. Do not hurry, exertion will only stimulate the circulation of the poison.Trail Blazer: Rattlesnake!
Conclusion
- If you or someone you know has been bitten by a rattlesnake, do not panic. A bite does not mean you have been injected with venom. Twenty-five percent of pit viper (which include the rattlesnake) bites are considered "dry bites," which means they are non-
- Every year, approximately 8,000 people are bitten by a venomous snake in the United States. Of these, less than fifteen die from the bite. Most deaths occur because the wound was untreated or the victim was too far away from medical help.
