How to Survive a Snake Bite
Campers and hikers are the primary target for snake bites, usually by accident or through carelessness. Venomous snakes attack only when threatened, but this may mean stepping on them or trying to capture them (even trained people get bitten).
The best prevention is avoidance through wearing ankle-height hiking boots while in the woods and of course never ever attempting to catch any snake, even if you think it is just a garden variety.
When you or anyone in your family gets bitten, what you have to do is:
Wash the bite site with soap and water, if available, get the limb immobilized and below the heart.
Never:
Fortunately for Ontarians, the only venomous snake here is the Eastern Massassauga. It is just one of three found in Canada, with others living in British Coloumbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Massassauga is a rattle snake on the verge of extinction, with a population of about 8000, mostly on Bruce Peninsula and around Georgian Bay. However, because of increased deforestation and cottage industry the contacts with humans are increased, with about 5 bite cases each year.
There are four species of venomous snakes in North America: rattlesnake, the copperhead, the water moccasin or cotton mouth, and the coral snake.
If untreated venomous bites can cause tissue damage resulting in amputation, severe pain, loss of blood clotting ability (i.e. severe bleeding) and even death.
That is why seeking medical attention and anti-venom shots is essential. However, it is good to know, that not all hospitals carry enough anti-venom, as it is very expensive ($20,000-$80,000 per treatment) and it is not produced in Canada. So you may have to be transported to a bigger hospital in the area, which carries it.
So as usual, the best strategy is avoidance.
- Beata Antoszek's blog
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