How to handle a rattlesnake bite

Rattlesnakes are plentiful along the Front Range. Make sure you know what to do if one happens to get the best of you.  Photo: Colorado Division of Wildlife

Most anyone that has ever been outside for much time has had the thought: What do I do if I get bit by a rattlesnake? One scenario flashes in the mind. It is a scene straight out of any western movie or adventure film: kill the snake, get something tightly wrapped around the arm or leg, just above the bite, cut open the wound with a knife and suck out the poison, making sure to spit and not swallow.

That is not exactly the best way to handle a snake bite. M Cerato and W.F. Andelt, both with the Colorado State University Extension, propose a simpler and safer alternative. They say that "the most useful snakebite first aid kit is car keys and coins for calling the hospital." In other words, seek medical attention quickly.

Here are more guidlines from Cerato and Andelt:

1. Remain calm so as not to increase circulation and thus the spread of the venom.
2. Immediately remove anything from the body that may cause increased swelling below the bite area (i.e., rings, watch, shoes, tight clothing, etc.)
3. If possible, wash the wound with soap and water. If available, a Sawyer Extractor Pump may be used to remove some of the venom. Be familiar with the procedure and instructions before you need to use it.
4. Immobilize the bite area, keeping it in a neutral to below the heart position.
5. Get to the hospital immediately. Do not wait for the pain to get severe. The use of approved antivenom is the most effective treatment for envenomation. If possible, have another person drive, and call ahead to the hospital and the poison center.

And here's what not to do:

• Do not use a tourniquet.
• Do not make an incision at the bite site.
• Do not suck out the venom with your mouth as this may increase the risk of infection.
• Do not pack the limb in ice.

For more from Cerato and Andelt, read their rattlesnake information page, Coping with snakes.

The plain fact is that hiking around the Front Range for any amount of time in the summer could mean an encounter with a rattlesnake. Knowing what they look like and sound like will go a long ways in preventing a bite. If you do happen to hear a snake, don't start running. Look around calmly and slowly. When you have spotted the snake, don't panic. In most cases, and given any chance, the snake will move out. The last thing a snake wants is a confrontation with a human.