Snake bite season is upon us and I thought it might be a good idea to post a list of what to do if you or someone you know is bitten. I trust that everyone here knows not to mess with a venomous snake so I'll forgo a warning about that. However, accidents happen and although most bites occur when someone decides to mess with a snake, other bites happen by accidental encounters. Always look before stepping or reaching for something if you're in snake habitat. That log or pile of leaves may harbor a nasty surprise!

1. Stay calm! This sounds counter intuitive under the circumstances but it could save your life by slowing the spread of venom.

2. Identify the snake!!! Your doctor needs to know exactly what sort of snake it is to be able to properly treat the bite. Just saying "Rattlesnake" isn't enough since they have different qualities to their venom. Some are tissue destroying, some are neurotoxic and some are both. Take a photo if possible.

3. Call 911. I put this after identifying the snake because you can tell them what type it is and they can notify the ER so they're ready to treat immediately.

4. Apply a pressure bandage starting at the site of the bite and moving up to the trunk of the body as shown on this website: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/poisons...s_pressure.asp 

5. If you are in the wilderness far from help, after talking to the 911 dispatcher head to the nearest ER. Ask for directions to the ER that will be used and tell them you're going to be on the way and will meet them on the road. Tell them the make and color of the car so they can watch for it. Every second counts - as snake bite expert Dr. Sean Bush says, "Time is tissue!"

6. Do NOT under any circumstance remove the pressure bandage or allow it to be removed until treatment has begun. Once the bandage is removed the venom is free to circulate through your system and will do so quickly.

7. Be your own advocate. Many ER doctors don't know how to treat snake bites. Don't be afraid to ask and offer them the following resources.

Venom 1 in Dade County Florida: http://www.miamidade.gov/mdfr/emerge...cial_venom.asp

Venom 1 is especially important because they have a supply of anti-venom for all the snakes in the U.S. and many more snakes that are not local. The ER you go to may not have any anti-venom at all so they'll have to call Venom 1 and have it flown in.

Dr. Sean Bush of Loma Linda University Medical Center: http://lomalindahealth.org/medical-c...ors/index.html

Dr. Bush is a recognized snake bite expert and the ER doctor can call him for treatment help. 

Don't let the doctors ego get in the way of your treatment! A venomous snake keeping friend recently had a horrible experience when the ER doc wouldn't ask for help and the treatment was botched. He is lucky to be alive! He ended up being in the hospital for a month instead of a few days.

Deaths from snake bite are extremely rare in this country because of the resources available. As long as you know what to do and stay calm, your chances of a full recovery are excellent.