Basic Snake Bite Information 6.29.2024

Snakes are most active between April and October. In our area there are two poisonous snakes you might encounter. They are the Rattlesnake (Eastern Diamondback and Timber Rattler) and the Copperhead. These are pit vipers that have two hollow upper fangs than puncture the skin and inject venom. Pit Viper venom may be hemotoxic (causes disruption to your blood system causing bleeding), cytotoxic (damages tissue), or neurotoxic (disrupts your nervous system). Rattlesnake bites may have all three and are considered more dangerous than Copperheads bites, although most pit viper venom is mainly hemotoxic.  Rattlesnake bites are also known to cause severe muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) which may cause kidney problems.

Most bites occur to the hand or arm from people reaching into plants or putting their hands into places where a snake is hiding. Also, people may get a bite on the lower leg while hiking and getting too close to the snake. Don’t put your hand or foot (check the other side of that log before stepping over) in a place you can’t see or near likely hiding places like rock ledges.

Not all bites result in venom being injected. It is estimated that 25-30% of snake bites are dry (no venom is injected--if you are lucky). All juvenile snakes will inject all their venom. It is also possible to be bitten more than once--this is not a good thing. 

Bites that have venom injected will have bleeding/bruising, swelling and pain which will spread, sometimes rapidly. You may also experience nausea, sweating, dizziness, numbness and fast heartbeat. Serious bites may result in cardiac and respiratory compromise that can lead to death. While fatalities from snake bites are rare, they do occur so take it seriously.

What do you do if you experience a snake bite.

YOU NEED TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY.  Do not drive yourself!  Have someone take you or call 911. You need to go, even if you are not having symptoms. Waiting is the wrong thing to do because onset of severe symptoms may be delayed.

Place the affected limb in a neutral position (don’t walk on your leg for instance--have someone help you get to a safe location) or hold your arm still in a neutral position (not up or down) to avoid increasing the spread of venom.

You can wash the site and put a bandage on it.

Mark the outer edge of any swelling or bruising with a pen or marker or take a photo and note the time so medical personnel can see how much the swelling and bruising has spread.

The treatment for moderate or severe envenomation is receiving an antivenom injection.  In most cases, this will rapidly halt the progression of the effect of the venom. You will be monitored for approximately 6 hours or may end up staying in the hospital depending on the severity of your symptoms.

Antivenom is not without its own risks. You may experience a delayed (4-7 days later) allergic reaction called serum sickness from the antivenom. Symptoms include itching, rash, joint pain and swelling, but can easily be treated with steroids (prednisone) and will resolve over a few weeks

Things NOT to do:

Don’t try to capture the snake (and don’t bring the snake--dead or alive with you) We will be able to tell it was a pit viper by the bite. It doesn’t matter if it was a Copperhead or a Rattlesnake; the antivenom treatment is the same.

Don’t apply a tourniquet

Don’t apply ice

Don’t make cuts or try to suck out the venom

Don’t apply electrical shock

Don’t drink alcohol and don’t take any meds (aspirin or ibuprofen for instance)

Or any other remedies you may have heard over the years!

JUST GET TO THE HOSPITAL

I hope you never need this advice and all your snake encounters are at a safe distance.

This information brought to you by a physician with 40+ years of experience who has treated dozens of snake bites.

L. Allen Dobson, Jr., MD FAAFP