Hunter saves own life after rattlesnake bit him

Grind TV/Yahoo Sports ^ | 5/1/13 | David Strege

[Kartographer]

Chad Cross was hunting for turkey in the woods in Alabama when a venomous pit viper rattlesnake bit him in the lower left leg. Nervous and scared, the Montgomery resident attempted to calm himself and slow his heart rate so as to prevent the quick spreading of the deadly venom throughout his body. He then made a move that saved his life. He pulled out his $10 snake-bite kit. WSFA has the incredible story:

[Dusty Road]

OK folks there not many people on this site that have hunted and handled more live rattlers than me. Over the years I’ve been hit 4 times by rattlers, only once was I handling. If you want to try and pull/suck the venom out go ahead but do not cut it! If possible pack with ice and get to the ER, the main thing is get to the ER. I know atleast 50 people that have been hit by rattlers and they’re all still breathing but some have lasting damage. Rattlesnake venom is a hemotoxin and will literaly destroy flesh but the effects can be slowed down with antivenom, get it as quick as you can.

[MamaB]

Someone from my hometown posted a picture on Facebook of a snake they killed. The rattlesnake was nearly 10’ long, had 20 rattles. It was huge. Luckily they got it before it got them. I do not like those things at all. Glad this person survived.

[Stonewall Jackson]

I was out hiking last week and accidentally stepped on a copperhead. Fortunately my boot came down on his head, so it was his tail that struck me.

While copperhead bites are usually nonlethal, they will make you pretty sick. This was a three-footer and I was almost four miles from the trailhead. It would not have been a fun trek out of there.

[Marcella]

This is the Sawyer Extractor Kit and there is still discussion whether it works or not or should be used, but it seems to work really well on insect stings and that's enough for me to get it. I don't do well with a mosquito bite - turns into a red whelp that itches for days. This device appears to keep that from happening. I'd surely use it on bee and wasp stings, and yes, I'd use it on a snake bite really fast and head to Emergency Room.

[kearnyirish2]

We have timber rattlers and copperheads here in north Jersey, and no recorded case of a person dying from a bite (ever). Usually the snakes try to avoid you (feeling your vibrations in the ground as you approach), but the problems are 1) copperheads are thick, slow snakes - they have a hard time getting out of the way in time - and 2) people rock-climbing reach up where they can’t see, and disturb timber rattlers sunning themselves on the rocks. Many people don’t realize that poisonous snakes can give a “dry bite” (non-venomous); the venom is a digestive aid, and SUPPOSEDLY they wouldn’t waste it on something they can’t eat (because they have to take time producing more). In any case, I think it helps if you keep the bitten area below the level of your heart; I’d also use an “almost-tourniquet” (not completely cutting off the circulation, but slowing it) if I was simply waiting for an ambulance. As a hiker, I have the kit this guy used, and it is impressive. It works like a syringe but sucks, and comes with different sized “suckers” to best match your bite.

I have a nice picture of a reared-up copperhead on the Palisades overlooking the Hudson River; it despaired of escaping and figured it had a better chance fighting.

[Marcella]

“If possible pack with ice and get to the ER,”

Yes, use ice, go to emergency room. If I had the extractor I’d use it fast, then ice clamped on it, then take off to ER.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

The bottom line to this was known long ago. Keep calm and get to an emergency room as fast as you can. There is nothing you can do in the field that is better than what they can do.

Also, if at all possible, kill and take the snake with you. Different snakes need different anti-venom. And oddly enough, when rattlesnakes cross breed, they can produce a venom much less resistant to the standard anti-venom for either snake.

[driftdiver]

I’ve heard numerous times these suction cup don’t offer much help. They probably don’t hurt though. Gives you something to do while trying to calm down.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Venom is probably like any toxic substance it depends upon the concentration of the venom injected, the age and health of the victim, and the closeness of care to the sting. My first cousin lives in Dallas Texas and he had a Copperhead crawl into the concrete opening where one turns on ones sprinklers. He said the same thing as you in that the Copperhead is slow and not aggressive.

We have here in my region of California what is known as "The Mojave Green." It injects a combination hemotoxin and neurotoxin. There is an additional problem for victims of that snake's bite in that the proportions of neurotoxin to hemotoxin vary from habitat to habitat. It is best that the treating doctor knows where you were bit.

[saleman]

Reminds me of a story. Ya see there were these two good ole boys out hunting and....well never mind.

So, who’s gonna be the one to post the whole thing?

[Marcella]

"We have timber rattlers and copperheads here in north Jersey”

We also have copperheads in Texas.

[NonValueAdded]

At least he didn’t say “automatic” venomous pit viper rattlesnake

[OregonRancher]

You CAN suck out the venom because the gastric juices in your
digestive track destroy the venom. However, mechanical suction
devices work much better.

[Bender2]

Re: Cutting to the punchline before the rest of the perverts around here: "Doc says you're gonna die."

"Kemosabe, doctor say... you gonna die--"

Cliff, old buddy, the doc says for me to drink this bloody mary... before I tell you that you're going to die.

Frank, I love ya, old sport... but doc says you're going to die.

Miles, I called my doctor in St Olaf... and he says you're going to die.

Tiger, the doctors says... you're going to die.

Oberst Klink, sagt der Arzt... dass du gehst zu sterben.

Clyde says... you're going to die.

Survey says... you're going to die.

Mongo may be only pawn in game of love, but even he know... you're going to die!

Yep, big, I've got a cheddar headache and you're... going to die.

I don't give a damn what the court-martial finds my punishment is... Steve Maryk is going to die!

Bill, the doc says... you're going to die.

Luke, die... you will.

Walter, you're... going to die--

Bendy, this is your lucky day! You're... NOT going to die!

Gadzooks! Live by the sword... die by the sword--

[Boogieman]

I think they say that to stop people from trying to suck it out with their mouths, because it’s just going to poison two people when they do that.

[ErnBatavia]

Have one in the med kit under the bathroom sink, next to my burn kit. And a couple under my bed. I got a problem with impulse buying.

You straight people are kinda kinky that way....heh

[Manic_Episode]

Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake.

W. C. Fields

[Boogieman]

” she said even though it was moving it was dead but didn’t know it.”

It’s amazing how long some things can “move” after they are technically dead. You can behead a cockroach, and the body will run around for a week just on reflexes until the body basically starves.

[Boogieman]

Yeah, but the venom destroys tissue, so it might still do a number on your mouth & throat, I imagine. Plus, if you had a cut in your mouth, you’d be in big trouble.

[ErnBatavia]

here in my region of California what is known as "The Mojave Green."

Ditto that here in the Coachella Valley...a couple of summers ago I'd just finished hacking a Western Diamondback in the front yard when wifey came thru the house and advised me there was another hissing in the back.

He got into a position where I couldn't get the Mutt-hoe on him, so I called Animal Control.

Making a long story short, the guy showed up in the front, eyeballing the Western and started in with the usual "Rattlesnakes are our friends" BS while we walked around back.....he spied the second culprit and yelled, "Sh*t!! That's a Mohave!! If you ever see one, kill it!!"