Amador County - Seven Amador County residents required treatment at Sutter Amador Hospital for rattlesnake bites this year. “Six of those victims were admitted to the hospital and required anti-venom,” according to Eduardo Morin, Pharmacy Director at Sutter Amador Hospital. Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County Public Health Officer, notes that the emergency department usually sees three to four bite victims per year. “No one keeps official statistics, but the most we can remember in any year is seven. We’re already there and the season’s only half over.” A recent bay area news paper article suggested that there are more rattlesnakes this year because of the late, wet spring and more small rodents which are their main source of food. More bites occur in the hand, when the person is attempting to pick up the snake or working in brush or wood piles. Alcohol consumption is involved in over 50 percent of bites. Symptoms are usually pain and stinging at the site, swelling, oozing of blood from bite and bruising. Sometimes a person will have a metallic or mint taste in the mouth or muscle twitching. There about 8,000 venomous snake bites per year in the United States. Only about five to six people die from rattlesnake bites per year. If bitten, the best thing you can do is get to the emergency room right away. Fortunately Sutter Amador Hospital keeps an adequate supply of anti-venom on hand. “The anti-venom is very effective and most victims require six to ten vials given intravenously,” says Morin. “The hospital stay is one to two days and most people recover without long lasting effects.” Morin notes that the cost of the anti-venom is close to $2,000 per vial. Hartmann adds that, “The only rattle snake native to this area is the Northern
Pacific Rattlesnake. Therefore, it’s not important to catch the snake. Actually it is more dangerous to attempt that. Every year someone brings a rattlesnake to the emergency room and it stirs up a little commotion.” Prevention is the best medicine. In order to avoid bites, never handle dead or living snakes, know the habitat where the snakes live (wood piles, brush), know snake habits (out more at dusk and dawn), keep rattlesnake enemies around (including dogs, cats, guinea hens, and pigs), wear boots and long pants, and
trim bushes and shrubs so you can clearly see underneath. Via Press Release This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friday, 30 July 2010 06:08
Rattlesnake Bites at Record Number
Amador County - Seven Amador County residents required treatment at Sutter Amador Hospital for rattlesnake bites this year. “Six of those victims were admitted to the hospital and required anti-venom,” according to Eduardo Morin, Pharmacy Director at Sutter Amador Hospital. Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County Public Health Officer, notes that the emergency department usually sees three to four bite victims per year. “No one keeps official statistics, but the most we can remember in any year is seven. We’re already there and the season’s only half over.” A recent bay area news paper article suggested that there are more rattlesnakes this year because of the late, wet spring and more small rodents which are their main source of food. More bites occur in the hand, when the person is attempting to pick up the snake or working in brush or wood piles. Alcohol consumption is involved in over 50 percent of bites. Symptoms are usually pain and stinging at the site, swelling, oozing of blood from bite and bruising. Sometimes a person will have a metallic or mint taste in the mouth or muscle twitching. There about 8,000 venomous snake bites per year in the United States. Only about five to six people die from rattlesnake bites per year. If bitten, the best thing you can do is get to the emergency room right away. Fortunately Sutter Amador Hospital keeps an adequate supply of anti-venom on hand. “The anti-venom is very effective and most victims require six to ten vials given intravenously,” says Morin. “The hospital stay is one to two days and most people recover without long lasting effects.” Morin notes that the cost of the anti-venom is close to $2,000 per vial. Hartmann adds that, “The only rattle snake native to this area is the Northern
Pacific Rattlesnake. Therefore, it’s not important to catch the snake. Actually it is more dangerous to attempt that. Every year someone brings a rattlesnake to the emergency room and it stirs up a little commotion.” Prevention is the best medicine. In order to avoid bites, never handle dead or living snakes, know the habitat where the snakes live (wood piles, brush), know snake habits (out more at dusk and dawn), keep rattlesnake enemies around (including dogs, cats, guinea hens, and pigs), wear boots and long pants, and
trim bushes and shrubs so you can clearly see underneath. Via Press Release This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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