Many myths and misconceptions surround snake bites and how people should treat them in the field.
You might already know you shouldn’t try to suck out the venom or apply a tourniquet, but some others, such as icing the wound, sound like good advice, but aren’t.
Venomous snake bites are rare in the U.S., with an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 occurring each year , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Deaths are even rarer. Only about five deaths occur among those bites, per the CDC. You’re far more likely to be killed in a car accident on your way to the hiking trail. Even dying by lightning strike is more likely than by a snake bite.
Still, if you spend a lot of time outdoors, the thought has probably crossed your mind. What should you do if the highly unlikely does happen? We spoke with Kristen Wiley, co-director of the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, for advice.
The top-line takeaway from Wiley is to seek medical help immediately: “The only first aid is getting to the hospital.”
Here’s what to know about an emergency situation, including what to do and what to avoid, if you find yourself with a snake bike in the middle of nowhere or in a spot without cell service.
Never hike alone
Many people are drawn to hiking because it offers them solitude in a noisy, busy world, along with the opportunity to slow down and reconnect with nature.
Enjoying the outdoors is great for your health, but if you’re hiking in a particularly isolated area that doesn’t get much human foot traffic, use common sense and bring a friend. At the least, tell someone where you’re going and what time you’ll be back so they can check in with you.
A walk in the woods helps reduce stress , boosts the immune system, restores energy and improves mood. Even a short, 20-minute walk is enough to see positive, noticeable effects in the body.
In Kentucky, there are only four venomous snake species . By Wiley’s estimation, the most common venomous snake bite experienced here (and really the eastern U.S.) is from the copperhead.
Fatal copperhead bites are exceedingly rare. During a 29-year period between 1989 and 2018, only five deaths could be attributed to copperhead bites , one study found.
Moreover, even if you know for a fact you’ve been bitten by a venomous snake, there’s a good chance you got what’s called a “dry bite.” Venom is a precious resource for a snake, and they’d rather not waste it on some human who blunders into their path. If they feel forced to bite for self-defense, but can neutralize a threat without expending venom, that’s ideal.
Get to a hospital
As Wiley puts it, if you’re bitten by a venomous snake, “the only first aid is getting to the hospital.” Trying to do anything else on the trail is just wasting time.
“The only treatment for a (venomous) snakebite is anti-venom, and anti-venom has to be given in a hospital setting,” Wiley said.
Obviously, if you stepped on the snake by accident, you’ll probably only have a second or two to catch a glimpse of it before it darts away to safety. Snakes, after all, are much more afraid of humans than we are of them, and biting is their last resort for self defense.
The CDC describes the following general symptoms people may experience if they’re bitten by a snake:
Puncture marks at the wound
Redness, swelling, bruising, bleeding or blistering around the bite
Severe pain and tenderness at the bite site
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Labored breathing
Rapid heart rate
Disturbed vision
Metallic, mint or rubber taste in the mouth
Increased saliva production and sweating
Numbness or tingling around the face or limbs
Muscle twitching
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What to do and what not to do
If you have been bitten by a venomous snake in Kentucky, Wiley emphasizes staying calm on your way to the hospital for treatment.
“For the most part, a venomous snake bite is going to take several hours before anything that’s really life-threatening is going to happen,” Wiley said.
Even a venomous bite from a timber rattlesnake, one of Kentucky’s two rattlesnake species, will take six to eight hours for life-threatening symptoms to occur, Wiley said. Timber rattlesnakes are a true sign of the wilderness , given they’ve been unfairly targeted by humans and are experiencing severe population declines .
Mount Sinai, a hospital system in New York, recommends taking these precautions in the event of a snake bite:
Do not pick up the snake or try to trap it
Do not wait for symptoms to appear if bitten. Seek immediate medical attention
Do not allow the person to become overexerted. If necessary, carry the person to safety
Do not apply a tourniquet
Do not apply cold compresses, ice or soak the wound in water
Do not cut into a snake bite with a knife or razor
Do not try to suck out the venom by mouth
Do not give the person stimulants or pain medicines
Do not give the person anything by mouth, unless directed by a doctor
Do not raise the site of the bite above the level of the person’s heart
Do you have a question about critters and wildlife in Kentucky for our service journalism team? Send us an email at ask@herald-leader.com or submit your comment or question via the Know Your Kentucky form below.
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