Re: North American Cobra Snakebite

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: I am an E.M.T./ FIREFIGHTER and my wife is a PARAMEDIC, as well I keep several cobras and rattlesnakes. We have been taught to not open the wound, suck out the venom, nor to use a turniquet as published in many snake bite kits. Most of the snake bite calls that we get are copperheads and the worst damage that I have seen from them was from a girl that tried to make an X with a screw driver to suck out the blood. She did worse damage than that breed of snake ever could; but she seen it on the TV. The only fatality that we have had in my six years was from a timber rattler. I have often wonderd if we could have done something different to save him. He had already began seizures and vometing when we arived. The bite spot was very swollen and his skin color was blue. I would appreciate any information that you could send me on this matter and/or treatment. Please no contriversial information, only facts that I can present to my instructors. Thank You. Aatrox@aol.com : : There is a vast amount of misperception concerning the use of pressure-immobilization (wide-area, low pressure dressings) on snakebites of : : all kinds. I have advocated Dr Sutherland's methods : : for all snakebites, including North American Crotalid : : snakebite since 1991. I got into some rather heated : : debates on various forums and I was frequently treated : : to "warnings" that various U.S. snakebite doctors : : were unalterably opposed to the method. I found : : out that the people dropping these names were lying to me or were : : seriously msinformed. One of those names was : : Dr Findlay E Russell, who confirms in a review : : article in the current issue of TOXICON that the : : method is of definite value in crotalid bite. : : It goes without saying that it should be used on : : any neurotoxic exotic or domestic bite as well. : : I am glad you will look into the method. I have : : written an article at the invitation of the IVSS : : on the Connotative Misperception of both : : Pressure/Immobilization and Extractor use in the : : United States. In following the lead of Dr Norris : : and Dr Minton in a recent review of snakebite : : treatment in VIVARIUM we advocate that both methods : : be used on any snakebite. : : If I can help any hots keeper be better prepared : : to deal with the immediate first-aid of a venomous : : snakebite I will be happy to do so. : : Steve Grenard : : venom@icomm.ca : : Moderator : : Venom-Listserv : : http://www.icomm.ca/venom

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