NEWS and EVENTS

                                          Snake Awareness

Freeze when snakes are known to be nearby until you know where they are.  Allow the snake to retreat.  If you must move, back slowly and carefully away from the snake.

Snakes in general, occur around a home for the specific purposes of seeking food and shelter. Keeping these things in mind provides us with guidelines to help prevent snakebite around the home.

Keep wood piles, brush piles, trash dumps and livestock pens as far as possible from the residence. When working in these areas, exercise caution. Never put an arm or leg into something if you can not see the bottom.

Keep storage areas and livestock sheds/barns as neat as possible. Treat materials stored on the floor as possible snake shelters. Treat overturned boats, tarps and similar objects as potential shelter for transient snakes moving through the area.

Remember snakes are adept at finding their way through small openings. Keep this in mind when entering crawl spaces, basements, garages and similar areas.

Safety in the Field

Since venomous snakes are common in the rural areas of Texas , it is important for ranchers, hunters, rural residents, outdoor enthusiasts and other that frequent these areas to exercise caution.

Be careful where you put your hands and feet - don't reach or step until you can see the bottom.

Never step over a log without first seeing what is on the other side. If you must move a log - use a long stick or garden tool first, to ensure snakes are neither under, on or around these favored habitats.

Use a flashlight when moving about, even in your home yard, at night.

Animal burrows make excellent habitat for snakes - don't reach in without first checking.

Wear protective clothing if working in areas where you suspect snakes nearby. Heavy footwear, snake proof trousers and/or leggings will help reduce your risk.

What to Do for Snake Bite

Get Medical Attention ASAP – Call 911.  

 Assume envenomation has occurred, especially if initial symptoms are present:

     Pit Viper (Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Rattlesnake) Symptoms~

• bites include fang puncture marks

• almost always include immediate burning pain at the bite site

• immediate and usually progressive local swelling within 5 minutes, and local discoloration of the skin.

 Coral Snake Symptoms~   

• tremors

• slurred speech

• blurred or double vision

• drowsiness or euphoria

• marked increase in salivation within four hours; however, life-threatening effects from coral snake envenomation may not be evident for 24 hours or longer.

1. Identify the species of venomous snake that inflicted the bite. Identification is not necessary, but helpful.

2. Keep the victim, yourself, & anyone else as calm as possible.

3. Know and be alert for the symptoms of shock, and institute the proper treatment should it ensue.

4. Wash the bite area with a disinfectant if available.

5. Remove jewelry such as rings and watches, as well as   tight-fitting clothes, before the onset of swelling.

6. Reduce or prevent movement of a bitten extremity.

7. Position the extremity below the level of the heart.

8. Get the victim to a medical facility as soon as possible.  Anti-venom treatment is generally most effective within the first 4 hours and is ineffective after 8-10 hours.

DO NOT do the following~

1. Do not make incisions over the bite marks.
2. Do not use a tourniquet or other constricting ban except in extreme cases of envenomation, and then only if properly trained in the technique.
3. Do not use cryotherapy (including cold compresses, ice, dry ice, chemical ice packs, spray refrigerants, and freezing).
4. Do not use electroshock therapy.
5. Do not drink alcohol, as it dilates blood vessels and increases absorption from the circulatory system, and thus helps spread venom faster.
6. Do not use aspirin or related medications to relieve pain, because they increase bleeding. A pain reliever not containing aspirin, however, may be used.
7. Do not use the pressure/immobilization technique, which consists of firmly wrapping the entire limb with an elastic bandage and then splinting.
8. Do not administer anti-venom in the field unless properly trained in the procedure.