How to Treat a Mojave Rattle Snake Bite
According to the CDC, approximately seven to eight thousand people in the United States receive venomous snakebites each year and about five of those people die. However, antivenoms that can counter the effects of snake venom have been developed. If this antivenom is administered in a timely fashion, the victim should recover. The Mojave (or Mohave) rattlesnake has a neurotoxin venom that can shut down parts of the nervous system, leading to paralysis of the respiratory tract. Because this type of snakebite is so deadly, it must be treated immediately.
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Instructions
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Call 911 or the local emergency medical services. It is imperative to get medical treatment as quickly as possible.
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Try to identify the snake. Get a description of the snake, including color and shape. Take a picture if you can do so safely. This is important because Mojave rattlesnakes have two different types of toxins. Knowing the type of toxin will help medical personnel determine the best treatment.
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Keep the victim calm and as still as possible. Minimizing physical exertion and keeping the heart rate from accelerating helps slow the spread of the venom.
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Keep the area of the bite below the level of the heart.
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Remove any jewelry or constrictive clothing near areas of swelling.
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Keep the victim's airway open to help his breathing.
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Wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry bandage if you have access to these materials while you wait for medical professionals to arrive.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not try to suck the venom out yourself.
Do not apply a tourniquet or cut the wound.
Do not give the victim alcohol, caffeinated drinks, aspirin or any herbal remedies and do not apply an ice pack--this may cause more harm than the actual bite itself.
Do not attempt to capture or kill the snake.
