Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
LOTS of stories in Newport about rattlesnakes showing up in lawns in parks recently– especially outside of the Peninsula/Island area, and seem to be coming up around CdM and Santa Ana Heights areas. Springtime is bringing these snakes out, but their numbers seem to be higher than usual. This is how the experts recommend that you deal with them. This will not be an anecdote about an antidote, but it will tell those who are anti-venom how to make sure you get the antivenin!
First, the best way to survive a rattlesnake bite is not to get bit. Second, if you do…
DO NOTs:
Do NOT suck the venom out with your mouth or ask someone else to do it. It will only spread the venom to your mouth or to theirs.
Do NOT use a snakebite kit. Snakebite kits are almost universally disliked by medical professionals.
Do NOT apply a tourniquet
Do NOT heat or cool the area with ice or heat packs
Do NOT “slice” or “slash” the wound with knives or razors, and do NOT apply electric shock (seriously, this has to be warned against?)
Do NOT drink alcohol– it will spread the venom faster.
Do NOT try to take a picture of the snake. All antivenin in the US is the same (it is all for pit vipers) so if you are in the USA, focus on getting to the hospital, instead!
Do NOT do any strenuous activity, it will get the blood flowing and spread the venom faster
DOs:
DO immediately get 30 feet or more away from the snake
DO take 5 minutes, calm your nerves. Get your blood pressure as low as possible without drinking alcohol.
DO try to keep the wound below your heart. This will help slow the spread of the venom.
DO REMOVE JEWELRY . Watches, rings, or any other jewelry can cause restriction as your body swells and will need to be cut off (or worse…).
DO cut away clothing from the area you were bitten. As the area swells, this clothing will rapidly become problematic
DO mark the area and time around the wound so that medical professionals can see how quickly the venom is spreading– update this every 15 to 30 minutes.
If you are far off on a trail, DO drink as much water as possible and DO eat as many calories as possible before SLOWLY walking back (as to not raise your blood pressure)
And of course, DO call 911 immediately. Have a location to meet them that they can understand, and meet them there.
REMEMBER:
Snakes are most active at night, but they are beginning to come out now thanks to the warm weather to sun during the daytime. They like water, so if you are around a stream or body of water, keep an extra eye out. If you are hiking, step ON a rock or log, NOT over it– this will help you see whether or not the snake is using it as shelter and take action more quickly and safely.
