AGFC – Snake Bites

How well can you identify snakes native to our area? Is the best snake a dead snake? Well, you might be surprised to hear you have a better chance of dying by lightning strike than a snake bite. The CDC estimates that 7-8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the US each year but thanks to modern medicine only about 5 of those will die from the bite. By comparison, an average of 41 people in the US die annually from lightning strikes. Odds aside, preventing injury from Arkansas’s venomous reptiles is as simple as learning to identify them and avoid them. Many folks think that a snake’s pupil shape is a reliable way to identify whether a snake is venomous, however, this is simply not the case. Same goes for the triangular head myth as many non-venomous snakes flatten their heads when threatened. Home remedies for snakebites also often thought to be successful can sometimes cause more harm than good. Cold packs, cutting and sucking venom at the bite site, and even electric shock are all talked about methods but highly advised against. Health experts recommend to forgo the first aid for the bite and just go to the hospital. Don’t worry about collecting the culprit of the bite, either. CroFab, a commonly used anti-venom covers most if not all venomous snakes found in North America. To see what hospitals near you offer CroFab you can download the Snakebite 911 app for free. This app will direct you to a hospital with a current supply of CroFab.