Don’t wear flip-flops The next important consideration is what you have on your feet. “Most people would argue that you should be wearing boots with high sides if you’re in a place with lots of snakes,” Morocco says. “I would just prefer that you at least wear shoes.” He has seen patients in his emergency department who have been bitten while barefoot. “We say: ‘You were barefoot where?’ “ Wear long pants This is a hard one in warm climates, but wearing long pants can help since most people get bitten in the lower leg. Keep an eye on the kids Like dogs, kids are curious. They interact eagerly with their environment, looking closely at things and often reaching out to touch.
And if your dog gets bitten, the best thing to do is carry the pup to the vet as quickly as possible. There is antivenin treatment for dogs too.
Mark Morocco, an emergency room doctor at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, says that wearing long pants and closed shoes can help protect against snake bites. Staying on the walking trail can also help.
“I’ve seen a number of patients in my career — little kids who’ve been bitten in the face or the dominant hand,” Morocco says. “Because that’s what kids do. They see this thing, they reach out to touch it and bang! — they get a snake bite.” Snake bites can be more dangerous for children than for adults, because they are smaller and are often bitten on the face, which is more serious than a bite on the leg or hand. “Children get sick very quickly,” Morocco says. So what do you do if you or a loved one gets bitten? You need to get medical treatment as soon as possible. Call 911 immediately Antivenin drugs are highly effective, so if you do get bitten, get to a hospital as quickly as possible. (And hope you don›t get a nasty surprise from your insurance company.) 20
The antivenin (also called antivenom) snaps itself like a magnet to the molecules of snake venom and then allows the body to excrete it when urinating. So patients receive lots of fluids along with the antivenin.
Stay calm Getting bitten by a snake is like getting a shot, Morocco says. The snake injects you with venom, and the harder your heart beats, the faster the venom circulates in the body. So try to stay calm or even motionless if possible to keep the venom as localized to the snake bite area as possible.
If you are bitten on the hand or arm, don›t raise it above your head. Hold it across your chest, close to your heart, says Morocco. And if you have something to make into a sling to keep the arm still, do it. If the bite is on your leg, it›s best to lie down so your leg is level with, or lower than, your heart. If it›s not possible for an ambulance to reach you, you do need to get to medical treatment as quickly as possible. «If you have to walk or hop out, do it,» Morocco says. And here›s some bottom-line advice for what to do if you are waiting for the ambulance or emergency medical technician: «Don›t do anything you see in the movies or on TV,» Morocco says. «No tourniquets, no cutting an X on the wound and trying to suck out the venom.» He says those methods don›t have any effect on the outcome of snake bites and can even make them worse.
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
ROSIE I wanted to pass on to you that our beloved Rosie Mae passed away on Friday May 29th, 2020. Rosie came into the rescue as a give up on August of 2015. We were without a foster dog at that time and we were happy to be of assistance to Seva Grreat. Within 48 hours of Rosie coming into our home, she came into our hearts and we knew she would be with us for the rest of her life. She was an exceptionally gentle and sweet dog with bright eyes and a non-stop tail. Her demeanor and character made her an ideal therapy dog and, through Therapy Dogs International, she passed a six week program in three weeks. Rosie Mae loved to go to “work”, visiting with people of all ages, all abilities and disabilities. It was always a special day when Rosie would walk the halls of local elementary schools and be greeted with delight by the staff and students. It was equally as touching to see Rosie sit quietly to be petted by an elderly friend, who’s memory of the past is blurred and distant. Truly, Rosie was well-loved by so many. Rosie was diagnosed with cancer in late February, 2020. She underwent surgery to remove her spleen and two tumors in early March. She was with us for nearly three more months where she continued to enjoy her life with walks, car rides and belly rubs. I’d like to think that Rosie continues her therapy work over the Rainbow Bridge, bringing joy to all who meet her. –Allegra Havens
