Snake bite

[WokMaster1]

Can rattlers or Green Mojaves live up at higher elevation, like Tahoe or Yosemite?

[Hipmatt]

from: http://www.imba.com/resources/nmbp/treating-snake-bites
5) Treating Bites

There is not much in the way of effective first aid intervention for poisonous snake bites. Patients need antivenin. After treating any problems with the ABC's, your priority is rapid extrication from the scene and transport to a hospital that carries antivenin. Most patients do well if medically treated within several hours. All victims should be examined at a hospital.

Try to calm the patient
Immediately remove any jewelry or clothing that may constrict circulation.
Without delaying transport, clean and dress the wound with sterile gauze (wear gloves)
If the bite is on an extremity, splint the arm or leg in a straight, fully extended position; do not bend the limb at the joint because this will increase tissue damage. Elevate the immobilized limb above the heart
Minimize activity of the patient when possible to slow the spread of the venom
Treat for shock if present
Take frequent vital signs
Notify paramedics immediately
There are a number of myths about treatment that have now been shown to be ineffective and/or to worsen the patient's condition.

10 Things You Should NOT Do For a Bite Victim

Apply a tourniquet
Cut or slit the wound between or at the puncture marks
Use you mouth to create suction of the wound
Apply an Australian pressure wrap
Use suction devices (which have not been shown to help and can waste time)
Apply electric shock from car batteries or other sources
Aggressively cool or heat the wound
Give the patient anything to eat or drink
Splint a bitten extremity in a bent position
Try to catch or kill the snake
Other Steps

Learn what varieties of poisonous snakes live in your area and how to recognize them.
Learn which hospitals carry antivenin.
Be alert in snake county to avoid sneaking up on snakes, which have poor eyesight and are easily startled. Check in between rocks and logs and places where snakes hide before sitting or placing a hand or foot there.

[Hipmatt]

I remember reading a mountain bike story a year ago where the guy was in socal, got bit, was rushed to a hospital via pickup in about 25 mins(relatively fast), and the docs told him his friends saved his life by getting him there so fast. He was bitten in calf, and said that it took months to regain use of the leg, and that numbness still persists. The docs said there may be permanent damage to the leg for life.

Point of my story is that some rattlers can do some damage including killing small humans/dogs, etc. Be careful.

[ScottB]

from: http://www.imba.com/resources/nmbp/treating-snake-bites
Elevate the immobilized limb above the heart

Huh?

[Rob454]

Too much FUD in this post. This is frustrating and could potentially cost someone a limb.

DO NOT EVER ICE A RATTLESNAKE BITE! NEVER EVER EVER EVER. Period. There is also no need for an incision and never try and suck the venom out, this will not help and could hurt. A tourniquet should not be used but you can splint the affected area which may help with systemic effects.

If you were in a SHTF scenario or somewhere without access to medical treatment, wash the area with soap and water, keep area clean and immobilized, and rest.

I think he means do not tourniquet, do not make incision, do not ice. Either way if its a SHTF/anarchy/TEOTWAWKI/no hospital and you get bit by a rattler your chances of survival are low. And if/when you pull you will have a physical problem with the area where you were bit probably for the rest of your life. I don't mess with snakes. people get bitten because they either intentionally screw with the snake or they are not paying attention when outside.

[Subotai]

Greens are really bad. So are Tiger Rattlesnakes, I think in east Texas. Another one to watch out for in SoCal is the Southern Pacific. It now seems that its venom is turning neurotoxic. This is bad news. It was dangerous already.

Incidentally, in some venom comparisons, Greens are more dangerous than Egyptian Cobras.

[Subotai]

Here you go, scary stuff:

http://www.venomdoc.com/LD50/LD50men.html

[PlacerTactical]

My dads Pitbull was bitten last year on the nose. My dad was moving his tractor and a baby rattler was apparently under the bucket. He was backing it up and when he stopped and looked forward, his dog was shaking his head and the rattler was swinging around. It ended up flying off and my dad squeezed his nose to get as much out as he could, he said a lot came out. The dogs face swelled up pretty bad and about 2 days later, it went down. He was only about 8 months old when it happened.