Hunting

Rattlesnake Bites Are No Joke!

Rattlesnake bites are no joke

Rattlesnakes are the most common snakes of hunting country (especially in the West), and most hunters are not prepared for an encounter with rattlesnakes or any other snakes of hunting country and rarely give it a second thought. Though rattlesnake bites are rare, they are often nasty as the story and photos below will illustrate for you.

A real account from an actual rattlesnake bite victim.

…during the 30 minute Life Flight helicopter ride I was in and out of consciousness, having trouble keeping my eyes open.

We arrived at the hospital, where the doctor in the emergency room decided that my rattlesnake bite was too severe to treat there… the last thing I heard before going unconscious. I was taken from the Modesto hospital to the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento where I underwent a fasciotomy. The doctors cut my arm open from the palm up to about the middle of my biceps to relieve the extreme pressure that had built up from the rattlesnake venom.

I spent 35 days in the hospital after my rattlesnake bite. I had eight surgeries on my arm, and finally a skin graft from my leg to close the wound.

Once I was released, I went through four months of intense physical therapy, and had to fly to Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina for a follow-up vascular flap surgery. They took skin and muscle from my back, and attached its blood vessels to the ones in my arm. Two emergency surgeries were required within 24 hours on account of blood loss, but the vascular flap was a success. After six more months of physical therapy I could move each finger only 2-3 millimeters.

The cost of rattlesnake bites are high.

Rattlesnake Bite Victim
Venomous snakebite is sometimes erroneously viewed as not all that serious, because most victims survive. What is only rarely reported is the physical devastation that some survivors endure after envenomation.
The healing process is a slow one, but gradually, the injury began to improve.
The healing process is a slow one, but gradually, the injury began to improve.
Stitches and staples were used to hold the edges of the wound in place, and a surgical mesh covered the open muscles.
Stitches and staples were used to hold the edges of the wound in place, and a surgical mesh covered the open muscles.
A skin graft, using tissue removed from the victim's leg, was used to cover the opening in his arm.
A skin graft, using tissue removed from the victim’s leg, was used to cover the opening in his arm.

Follow up surgeries included a vascular flap procedure using skin and muscle from the victim's back, connecting the flap's blood vessels to the ones in his arm using microsurgery before stitching the flap to his arm.
Follow up surgeries included a vascular flap procedure using skin and muscle from the victim’s back, connecting the flap’s blood vessels to the ones in his arm using microsurgery before stitching the flap to his arm.
After twenty months and thirteen surgeries, the snakebite victim has recovered mobility and about 80% of the strength in his affected arm and hand
After twenty months and thirteen surgeries, the snakebite victim has recovered mobility and about 80% of the strength in his affected arm and hand

20 months later, my hand now has fully mobility and is about 80% as strong as it was before. My 13 surgeries, $700,000 worth of helicopter flights, and hospital stays luckily were all paid by my insurance. This is the reason you never want to be bitten by a rattlesnake or any other poisonous snake of hunting country.

AND GET TRIP INSURANCE!!!