I've been in and around Montecastello since 1986, and have never
been bitten by a viper, much less actually seen one, except in the zoo. But
since they are out there,
and some of you are landscapers, here is some information about vipers, what
they look like, and what to do if one bites.
Viper,
common name for snakes in a family of venomous snakes,
characterized by a pair of long, hollow fangs, usually with reserve fangs beside
them, in the front of the upper jaw. The fangs fold back against the palate
when not in use and quickly swing forward to strike, injecting a deadly venom
that kills prey and also serves as a defense. The viper generally has a broad,
triangular head, and the eyes have vertical pupils. Most vipers give birth to
living young from eggs hatched inside the mother's body.
For Goodness Snakes!
Treating and Preventing Venomous Bites
Over the years, snakebite victims have been exposed to all
kinds of slicing, freezing and squeezing as stopgap measures
before receiving medical care. Some of these approaches, like
cutting into a bite and attempting to suck out the venom, have
largely fallen out of favor.
"In the past five or 10 years, there's been a
backing off in first aid from really invasive things like making
incisions," says Arizona physician David Hardy, M.D., who
studies snakebite epidemiology. "This is because we now know
these things can do harm and we don't know if they really
change the outcome."
Many health-care professionals embrace just a few basic
first-aid techniques. According to the American Red Cross, these
steps should be taken:
Wash the bite with soap and water.
Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the
heart.
Get medical help.
"The main thing is to get to a hospital and don't
delay," says Hardy. "Most bites don't occur in real
isolated situations, so it is feasible to get prompt [medical
care]." He describes cases in Arizona where people have
caught rattlesnakes for sport and gotten bitten. "They
waited until they couldn't stand the pain anymore and finally
went to the hospital after the venom had been in there a few
hours. But by then, they'd lost an opportunity for [effective
treatment]," which increased the odds of long-term
complications. Some medical professionals, along with the
American Red Cross, cautiously recommend two other measures:
If a victim is unable to reach medical care within 30
minutes, a bandage, wrapped two to four inches above the bite,
may help slow venom. The bandage should not cut off blood flow
from a vein or artery. A good rule of thumb is to make the band
loose enough that a finger can slip under it.
A suction device may be placed over the bite to help draw
venom out of the wound without making cuts. Suction instruments
often are included in commercial snakebite kits.
Avoiding Snakebites
Some bites, such as those inflicted when snakes are
accidentally stepped on or encountered in wilderness settings,
are nearly impossible to prevent. But experts say a few
precautions can lower the risk of being bitten:
Leave snakes alone. Many people are bitten because they try
to kill a snake or get a closer look at it.
Stay out of tall grass unless you wear thick leather boots,
and remain on hiking paths as much as possible.
Keep hands and feet out of areas you can't see. Don't
pick up rocks or firewood unless you are out of a snake's
striking distance. (A snake can strike half its length, Hardy
says.)
Be cautious and alert when climbing rocks.
What do you do if you encounter a snake when hiking or
picnicking? Says Hardy: "Just walk around the snake, giving
it a little berth--six feet is plenty. But leave it alone and
don't try to catch it."
Though poisonous snakes can be dangerous, snake venom may
have a positive side. Clinical trials are presently under way to
test the therapeutic value of a venom-derived product called
ancrod in treating stroke. Earlier proposals, using snake venom
to treat neuromuscular disorders such as multiple sclerosis,
never reached the clinical trial stage.
John Henkel is a staff writer for FDA
Consumer.
How NOT to Treat a Snakebite
Though U.S. medical professionals may not agree on every aspect of what to
do for snakebite first aid, they are nearly unanimous in their views of what
not to do. Among their recommendations:
No ice or any other type of cooling on the bite. Research has
shown this to be potentially harmful.
No tourniquets. This cuts blood flow completely and may
result in loss of the affected limb.
No electric shock. This method is under study and has yet to
be proven effective. It could harm the victim.
No incisions in the wound. Such measures have not been proven
useful and may cause further injury.
Arizona physician David Hardy, M.D., says part of the problem
when someone is bitten is the element of surprise. "People
often aren't trained in what to do, and they are in a panic
situation." He adds that preparation--which includes knowing
in advance how to get to the nearest hospital--could greatly
reduce anxiety and lead to more effective care.
--J.H.
Editor's note:
Many people ask if there is a serum or antitdote that they can take with them
when they paint out in the landscape. Unfortunately, since more people were
being killed by the antidotes than by vipers, they were all taken off the market.
Viper,
common name for snakes in a family of venomous snakes,
characterized by a pair of long, hollow fangs, usually with reserve fangs beside
them, in the front of the upper jaw. The fangs fold back against the palate
when not in use and quickly swing forward to strike, injecting a deadly venom
that kills prey and also serves as a defense. The viper generally has a broad,
triangular head, and the eyes have vertical pupils. Most vipers give birth to
living young from eggs hatched inside the mother's body.