Forum member Rhawn Fischer sent an excellent webpage on snakebite. It includes additional information using the Sawyer unit. http://www.xmission.com/~gastown/herpmed/snbite.htm

An interesting site! Probably would not hurt for some of us to add a Sawyer to our kits as well as take a serious look at real first aid treatment & methods. <br><br>Hmmm . . . inquiring minds want to know . . . the question came up in my family . . . have any of the forum members been bitten by venomous creatures / snakes? <br><br>If so, perhaps in the spirit of sharing hard won first hand (or foot, or leg etc.) knowledge, maybe some "bitees" might be willing to provide their thoughts . . .<br><br>If so, what type of bite/sting? Where was it? How long until antivenom treatment?<br><br>What was the initial first aid treatment?<br><br>What observations / comments / suggestions are made by the "bitee"?<br> <br>I suppose that there may be some other bites / stings that folks might be interested in sharing info. on as well . . . scorpions . . . stingrays . . . jellyfish . . . sea urchins . . . brown recluse spiders . . . taxman <grin> whoa . . . just kidding about the last one ;>)<br><br>Seriously we may have some good info among us all. <br><br>FWIW, In a slightly related note, a couple of years ago, while speaking with a buddy (that had unwillingly spent some time far offshore in saltwater after a misadventure) he showed me some bite marks on his legs, which he said were from small fish (the hair on his legs looked like algae/food to them). His concern at the time was that the small bites would bleed and attract the BIG FEEDERS. <br><br>Regards,<br>Comanche7<br><br>

I was told once that more people succumb from improper treatment of snakebites than would succumb if the bites were left untreated. Can that be true? I can't find that repeated anywhere. I was also told that it is dangerous to be biten by a black widow spider that an copperhead. Can't find that anywhere either. Urban legend?<br><br>Robb

I was struck twice by a pacific rattlesnake. Both were "dry bites" when the snake's glands were not envenomated. I was struck just above the ankle. My greatest fear were the idiots with first, a cutter's snakebite kit and then a huge bowie knife. I merely went to the hospital for a tetanus shot and observation. I know several people who have been struck. Most recently, a golfer went to retrieve a ball in a posted danger area of chapparel. His symptoms are classic; immediate swelling, a tingling sensation in the mouth and intense pain. He is a martial arts instructor and used meditation exercises to slow down his breathing and pulse rate. With rattlesnakes, tissue necrosis is common. The antivenom has a side effect with severe flu like symptoms. It takes a real effort to get bitten by most of these creatures. I was surveying archaeological sites and was overly focused on dentalium shell beads. I immediately borrowed a two volume text on rattlesnakes by Krauber ( U.C. California ) familiarization with potentialy dangerous animals gives an appreciation for their place in the world, and keeping mine!

Black Widows are very aggressive. The poison is extremely toxic, second only ( in the USA) to the Brown Recluse. Copperheads are actually a very retiring animal. Aquaintances in their range say it takes extreme, repeated aggression just to elicit a bite. More people die annually from various insect and spider bites than poisons from venomous snakes,The Gila Monster ( anyone who can get bit by a Gila needs serious counseling) or the various amphibians with poisonous skin glands. Improper treatment will exasperate an allready serious situation as will non treatment. The bottom line is to get the victim to proper treatment ASAP.

I had no idea that a Brown Recluse bite was more venomous than the Black Widow, but I guess you learn something new everyday.<br><br>I have been biten by a Brown Recluse 3 times in the past 10 years, and I'm only 24. It must be something about these Missouri backwoods. <br><br>Anyway, I just wanted to inform the forum that Brown Recluse bites are VERY rarely fatal. Fatalities are most likely to occur in children, the elderly and those in poor physical condition. My doctor told me that the only healthy, fatally biten adult he has heard of, had an allergic reaction to the venom. Approx. 5 people die a year in Missouri from Black Widow bites, and approx. 1 or 2 a year from an allergic reaction to Recluse venom.<br><br>The Brown Recluse is shy and will try to run from a threatening situation, although it will bite if cornered. People are sometimes bitten while they are asleep...mainly because they roll onto a Brown Recluse spider while it is hunting in the bed. More often the victim is bitten while putting on a shoe or piece of clothing, which the spider has selected for its daytime hiding place.<br><br>The bite of the Brown Recluse is usually painless until 3 to 8 hours later when it may become red, swollen, and tender. (All three of mine were painfull immeditely) Later, the area around the bite site may develop into an ulcerous sore from 1/2 to 10 inches in diameter. (All three of mine were about 1 and 1/2 in.) Healing often requires a month or longer, and the victim may be left with a deep scar. (Yep.) It should be noted that not all Brown Recluse bites result in ulcerations or scarring.<br><br>Anyone that has ever been biten by a spider should try to collect a specimen, as it is very hard for doctors to diagnose a spider bite. IF YOU EVER GET BITEN BY A BROWN RECLUSE, GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM A.S.A.P., JUST TO MAKE SURE. Prompt medical attention can reduce the extent of ulceration and alleviate other complications that may develop.<br><br>John McIntire

Robb,<br><br><br>I'll take a copperhead bite any day. <br><br>A friend of mine is a herpetologist. We were looking for snakes, lifting plywood sheets up to find them....you know, stuff that you shouldn't do if you want to avoid snakebite. I was careless about where I put my hand, and wham, snakebite. It was a copperhead. I asked him if I should go to the hospital. He looked at the wound, shook his head and said, "For this? Nah. You'll be fine." He was right. The bite site hurt, swoll up, and nothing..... The snake may not have envenomated, although he made a good strike, and had opportunity to. <br><br>This same friend was bitten by a widow once and had to be hospitalized. I'll taken the copperhead bite anyday. <br><br>FYI, my herpetologist friend tells me that researchers have found eastern diamondbacks recently that have venom with neurotoxic properties, in addition to the regular hemotoxic stuff. <br><br>Take care,<br><br>Andy

My information may be dated. Several years ago there was a rash of Brown Recluse bites with fatalities south of Los Angeles County. At the time they were listed as the most venomous. It always amuses me to see campers armed to the teeth for bears,only to succumb to sunburn,centipede bites and spoiled hot dogs.