Snake bite when afield question

[Extremebowman]

During the 2 hour drive to the lease my son (13) and I normally talk hunting stuff, woodsmanship etc stuff. So this time we're talking about snake bites. I know applying a tourniquet has been proven more damaging and trying to suck out the venom is a myth. I know I icing the wound and staying calm are first steps. What does one do if they're 2 hours from anywhere, no phone signal and no help? How long can a typical adult stay functional to get to civilization?

[Stoof]

Keep the heart rate down and get to the ER.

[bowhuntertex]

keep the bite lower than the heart.........call 911 ASAP and let them know you are on your way. Try and keep the victim calm..........

[xSquid]

I know this doesn't answer your question directly, but...

There's a really good first aid class that we Boy Scouts have to have in order to attended Philmont, in Cimarron, NM. Wilderness First Aid.

The first aid classes we get at work, school, etc. are all based on you being able to get EMS help within about 30 min. Wilderness First Aid is based on you being HOURS from help. It's not a BSA program and there are classes offered all over the country. Well worth the time and money.

[lbbf]

Even without anti-venom you stand a VERY good chance of surviving a snake bite. Rattle snakes have the most toxic venom of the 3 you are most likely to be bit by. Coral is the most toxic with a neurotoxic venom but unless you are picking it up you are not likelly to be bit. Copperheads are the diet coke of the venom world. Possible to die from it but very unlikely if you are healthy. Being dehydrated makes the effect of venom worse, but trying for force water down someone who has been bitten isn't good either.

[fowlwaters]

Most important thing is ID the snake that bit you so you can tell hospital.

[denimdeerslayer]

The only death I know of personally from a snake bite was a copperhead.

[Bonehead2314]

Stay calm, don't ice the area ( ice constricts the vessels thus moving the toxins), Keep area below heart, notify 911 of the route you are taking so they can meet you along the way. If your have on star even if not paying for the service I believe you can still use it for emergencies.

[x1jett]

Don't use a tourniquet, but do put snug fitting ace bandages above and below the bite. This will help slow down the movement of the venom.

2 hours is a long way from help. You might want to get the SPOT emergency notification service, On-Star, or the number for the local sheriff's office. The neurotoxins from the bite might limit your ability to operate a vehicle.

It's great that you are teaching your son to have a plan.

[Bill]

I'm no expert, not a doctor nor qualified to offer medical advise. I bump 'em occasionally, and wondered about the answer myself. This is pretty consistent advise from multiple web sites. I'd like to hear from somebody who's done it though.

Of the estimated 6,000 to 8,000 poisonous snake bites that occur in the United States each year, there are only five to eight fatalities. The reason: Snakes don't want to waste their precious venom. They prefer to save it for something useful, like killing rodents they can then eat. Most human strikes are merely defensive in nature and leave behind just enough venom-the process is known as envenomization-to make you sick. Keep in mind that any amount of snake venom is life threatening to young children. Parents who take children hiking should be especially cautious in snake country.

If you or someone in your party is struck by a poisonous snake, better safe than sorry: Get to a medical facility. Administering antivenin is the only successful treatment. Longtime folk remedies like giving the person whiskey or the old "cut-and-suck" method (slicing the bite with a knife and sucking out the poison with your mouth) only make the victim's condition worse.

For the hike out to the car, immobilize the bitten extremity with a splint, and if possible, carry the victim to the trailhead. If you can't carry the person, he'll have to hike out on his own. It takes at least 2 hours for the symptoms of envenomization to take effect. Watch for signs of shock (heavy sweating, clammy skin, shallow breathing), since the fear of having been bitten is often more dangerous than the bite.

http://www.backpacker.com/backpackin...d/nature/12177

Another good link

http://www.hitthetrail.com/snakes

[DonBon]

Time is tissue

[ratterrier]

I would make sure your son can drive and has driven you to the nearest hops or at least to cell phone service and make sure he can read a gps if needed to get off the lease at night.

[ladrones]

Here is a long, detailed article. Warning- contains some foul language.

http://bfelabs.com/2011/01/30/venomous-snakebite-management/

Bullet points from BFE labs:

Contact Emergency Medical Services.
Identify (if possible) the snake but otherwise leave it alone.
Encourage calm and minimize physical movement/exertion of victim.
Expose the bite, removing potentially constricting clothing from the area (cut away, rather than forcing the patient to make the excess movement required to disrobe).
Use Pressure Immobilization when appropriate.
Splint the bitten extremity (even without PI).
Give oxygen and intravenous fluids if available.
Mark the extent of envenomation (visible via swelling), and continue to re-mark every 15 minutes to track progress.
Continue to monitor patient condition and vitals. Intubate if available and necessary to combat airway occlusion from swelling.
Avoid administering any therapies that lack value, or may increase risks, such as administration of aspirin or anti-inflammatory pain medications that may worsen bleeding, use of ice or electrical shock, tourniquet application, ingestion of alcohol, and home remedies. Use energy and time for medically sound patient support, and rapid transport to advanced care.

[BFE Labs]

Hello everyone, I just wanted to stop by and give an update to the link Ladrones posted. We've moved to a new site, but the articles are still up, and the snakebite article can be found here: bfelabs.net/venomous-snakebite-management/ (And as noted before, it does still contain strong language in a couple places).

Thanks for the original linking Ladrones (dig that handle too, I grew up on the backside of a mountain with that name).
As far as we know, that's the most up-to-date article on snakebite around. We revisit it regularly, and will update it if/when current thinking changes or as new research emerges.