Brian, you're missing an important risk factor!!!
.. the last time I was in Texas, a rattlesnake made me run into a cactus.

Injuries resulting from high speed collisions with cacti are a whole nother story. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hey Brian, didn't the cactus learn that the more you got, the less you need to know?

Well I was dry bit twice by buzzworms surveying a future 'development' below the Reagan Library ( collective forum yawns as I've posted this a few times.) Both times my greatest fear was the idiot with a cutter kit and Rambo knife wanting to suck on my ankles. Indiana Jones isn't the only archaeologist packing heat for protection <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. The problem is so many rattlesnakes have been wiped out by people, especially those inane roundup festivals, that surviving snakes who DON'T tend to rattle are passing on this trait. We are selectively breeding non rattling rattlesnakes.As for cacti, respect is also the keyword. remember the idiot in AZ who blasted a Suquaro with a 12 guage until a major arm wieghing a few tonnes fell on him? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sawyer extractor is great for immediate use in the event of a bite or sting-one significant draw back is damage to local tissue due to vaccume action-it can cause the toxin to pool in the tissue and cause some local necrosis-its still better than nothing but its one of those things you need to be aware of before using it. The best use for this device is as soon as your "hit" apply it lightning quick and leave it on for a min of 5-10 min. , then release it...........its design is to try to get any residual poison out of the tissue before its effects fully set it.......in most cases the toxins are gone about as fast as the bite/or sting happens due to blood flow in the surrounding areas. But compared to the old cut and suck method........its better than nothing. Lastly if you do get a bite/sting, stay calm and do your best to reach medical attention.

All excellent points. It's funny (and a little disturbing) how something so incredibly unlikely occupies such a terrifying place in people's imaginations. I was talking with someone this past weekend who was worried about being struck by lightning. Of course, it's nothing to laugh at, but he was so much more likely to be hurt simply driving to his camp site that I can't imagine spending any time worrying about something as improbable as a lightning strike.