Contact:
Megan Rowe
(434) 924-5679
meganrowe@virginia.edu
Watch Out for the Snakes!
Charlottesville, Va. - Outdoor lovers can slather on sunscreen, spray mosquito repellent and wear giant straw hats. But if they see a poisonous snake, it's best not to make a fuss.
Last year, The Blue Ridge Poison Center at the University of Virginia Health System received more than 90 calls about victims of poisonous snakebites. Central Virginia is home to two kinds of poisonous snakes - the brightly-colored copperhead and the darker, larger timber rattlesnake. Both poisonous snakes have elliptical pupils and triangular heads. The rattlesnake tends to stay in more mountainous areas, according to Dr. Christopher Holstege, medical director of the poison center.
"The problem usually comes from people who are messing with them," Dr. Holstege said. If you see a snake, he advised, "Back up. Stay away from it. Don't jab it with a stick. Just go around it."
Deaths from snakebites in Virginia are extremely rare. Approximately 20 percent of poisonous snakebites are dry, meaning that no venom is injected at all. Snake bite victims, however, may experience some of these symptoms:
- Stinging pain at the site of the bite
- Puncture wounds from fangs
- Progressive swelling and bruising (may become severe)
- Sweating
- Weakness
- Nausea and Vomiting
- A drop in blood pressure
- Muscle twitching
- Metallic taste in the mouth
Severe reactions to snake venom can result in drops in blood pressure.
Snakebite victims should be kept calm. The bite area should be washed with soap and water and immobilized if possible. The victim should be taken to a health care facility.
For advice on dealing with a snake bite - and to learn what NOT to do if bitten -- call the experts at the Blue Ridge Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. Cell users can call 1-800-451-1428.
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