Show FIRST 0 ADVICE GIVEN IN TREATING rattlesnake BITE authority warns against again st use Us e of alcohol and over exertion E xer tion inasmuch as august is considered one of the most dangerous months of the year for rattlesnakes and a number of these reptiles have been killed not so far distant from richfield the following timely and authoritative information of first aid in the treatment of rattler bites is ia reprinted from the kane county standard of kanab dr chas T vorhies entomologist at the university of arizona gives the following on rattlesnake bites in a recent issue of the arl arizona cattle growers association weekly news letter let us divide the treatment into two phases first emergency treatment or first aid second medical cure every case of rattlesnake bite should be brought to the care of a physician as soon as possible so you are concerned primarily with the first phase 1 1 I keep cool rattlesnake bites aro painful but only a small percentage are fatal 2 apply tourniquet at once between wound and heart tight enough to hinder venous circulation circulation in veins but not tight enough to shut arterial flow A stout band or strip of rubber is good and can be most quickly applied 3 open fang punctures by cross cuts 18 19 1 8 9 inch deep with sharp sterile knife safety razor blade is easily carried in steril package suck the wound by mou mouth th if necessary mouth must be free of wounds or abrasions best to have a suction bulb 4 loosen tourniquet every 2030 20 30 minutes for two or three minutes 5 if antivenin antl be at hand administer at once according t to directions ions 6 keep patient quiet give stimulant if necessary weak heart action fainting alcohol is not a stimulant black coffee aromatic arom otic spirits of ammonia strychnine are stimulants plenty of alcohol will neatly finish what the venom has started 7 As soon as possible get to a physician who should continue the suction treatment give anU antivenin if not previously given and care for the wound to prevent infection action suction removes venom in blood serum for hours after bite is infected Am antivenin counteracts the venom which has gotten in the blood stream angwill and will benefit many hours after bite be careful not to slash indiscriminately or too deeply in opening for suction and drainage especially on hand foot wrist or ankle as serious damage damage to ito tendons may result mechanical suction is of course necessary for this purpose we recommend the ED BD outfit costing very few bites are quickly fatal most of the fatal bites do not result in death before 18 to 48 hours so there is ample time to treat bonts dont run or get overheated dont donl take any alcoholic drinks circulation increased by exercise or by alcohol serves to distribute the poison much more rapidly through the body dont injure the tissues by which is now known to be of no value as an antidote do not depend upon snake bite cures or home remedies commonly used they are of no value do not cauterize the site of the bite with strong acids or the like dont forget strong coffee and dont take whiskey or other alcoholic drink |