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Winnemucca Toddler Killed By Rattlesnake Bite, Family Says Local Hospital Didn't Do Enough
My News 4 ^ | 05/14/20 | Karsen Buschjost

Posted on 05/16/2020 5:57:49 AM PDT by Enlightened1

WINNEMUCCA, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Mike and Carie Johnson of Winnemucca are demanding change after their 3-year-old daughter, Alyssa, died from a rattlesnake bite over the weekend.

"In Humboldt County, we need a real hospital here, one that actually has good training," says Carie.

The Johnson's were walking near their home on Saturday when Alyssa was bitten. Her father rushed her to Humboldt General Hospital where they say she was denied anti-venom treatment for three and a half hours. The family claims doctors said she didn't need anti-venom and was stabilizing.

"They were not out," says Mike. "They had it. They told us both they had it, that she didn’t need it.”

Alyssa's parents say that after nearly four hours, hospital doctors decided Alyssa should be transported via ambulance to Renown’s Children Hospital in Reno for treatment. Carie tells News 4 Alyssa's condition worsened on the drive and Humbdolt General Hospital ambulance staff didn't do enough on the way to Reno.

“I say to them “she’s snoring, that’s not normal”, and they say “oh that’s just because of the medicine. I say "okay" because they’re the experts. And then I was like "she’s not breathing right," and I rub here chest and they say “just keep stimulating her.”

After getting to Renown, Johnson says staff gave her anti-venom three times and even flew-in a specialist from San Francisco, but it was already too late. Alyssa passed away at the Reno hospital.

An honor walk was held on Wednesday afternoon at Renown.

Now, Alyssa's parents are weighing actions against Humboldt General Hospital. They say changes and better training are a must.

"We're hearing too many stories of how horrible it is," says Carie.

(Excerpt) Read more at mynews4.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: hospital; killed; localnews; rattlesnake; toddler
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To: Dusty Road
Note to self: If ever treating a snakebite victim, be sure to shoot the snake with a snake shot load from your revolver and then take a couple of pictures of it. You did bring your revolver and a camera as part of your basic gear, right?

Oh, you didn't? Then find yourself a shovel or a club or something...

21 posted on 05/16/2020 6:49:46 AM PDT by OKSooner (Don't buy from China. Don't buy from Microsoft. Don't do Facebook. Tweet only enough to get banned.)
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To: Aria

My daughter has a brain injury due to doctor mistakes.

The lawyers wouldn’t take her case because they wouldn’t make enough money from it.

My daughter wasn’t disabled enough. She wasn’t in a wheelchair.

I’m glad she’s not disabled enough, but she didn’t talk until she was 5, she’s had seizures, we spent 100 thousands of dollars on speech therapy, occupational therapy, and tutoring on her.

She’s done remarkably well and graduated with honors in statistics and is now working on her master’s in data analytics, but she’s having a hard time getting a job and I don’t know why.


22 posted on 05/16/2020 6:50:34 AM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: Dusty Road

Northern Nevada, the overwhelming chances are it was a Great Basin(sub species of the Western Rattler) Mojaves haven’t been reported that far North - yet.

I hunt around Winnemucca on a regular basis. In the event of a bite the plan is to return to Reno ASAP. Even have a strategy to meet the Air Medivac at three places along the route.

If it was my kid I would of demanded ambulance air bridge evac immediately. The hospital is little more than a clinic.


23 posted on 05/16/2020 6:50:47 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

“I seldom go to the doctor for fear he might find something to treat me for.”

Yup. I avoid them like the proverbial plague.So far God has blessed me with excellent health for which I thank Him daily and at age 78 I take no medication, eat what I want, walk a few miles each day and maintain my weight with no problems at all.

I believe the only time I will be visiting a Dr. is if I am carried in to the office.


24 posted on 05/16/2020 6:50:47 AM PDT by billyboy15
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To: Delta 21

“”Where can society go to sue the parents for not being diligent enough to keep their 3 year old from getting bitten by a poisonous snake?””

I’m not going to go that far but I will say the parents hold the majority of blame in this one. I live in rattler country (Western Diamondbacks) and You don’t even think about letting a child run around let alone a toddler. Last week I killed 9 rattlers just crawling across ranch roads. I’d like to here the story on how and where the child got bit.


25 posted on 05/16/2020 6:52:49 AM PDT by Dusty Road (")
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To: Delta 21

Not sure that makes sense. A snake can be anywhere, any can’t necessarily be clearly seen until you step on it or whatever. Years back an uncle found one coiled up in his watering can.


26 posted on 05/16/2020 6:54:40 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Enquiring minds want to know.)
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To: Enlightened1

A Winnemucca rattlesnake roundup/barbeque is in order. Haute couture could feature rattlesnake belts, handbags, shoes. Presto...the rattlesnake population is under control.


27 posted on 05/16/2020 6:54:56 AM PDT by ryderann
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To: odawg

That’s what’s going to give them the win in the lawsuit.

That doctor needs to have his license to practice medicine pulled.

He essentially killed her.


28 posted on 05/16/2020 6:55:40 AM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: mad_as_he$$

Only thing making me think possible Mojave was the respiratory distress. That is a little far north to be finding Mojave’s.


29 posted on 05/16/2020 6:57:39 AM PDT by Dusty Road (")
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To: Enlightened1

Horrible. Sue those negligent doctors to kingdom come.

I will never forget (and this doesn’t come close to comparing) when my kid was denied stiches on his knee because, in my opinion, the doctor was ticked because I said my kid needed stitches.

I took my kid elsewhere and that doctor said absolutely he needed stitches and put them in.

Bad doctors are bad.


30 posted on 05/16/2020 6:58:20 AM PDT by yldstrk (Bingo! We have a winner!)
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To: Enlightened1

Another coronavirus-related death™.


31 posted on 05/16/2020 7:00:58 AM PDT by MuttTheHoople (THE)
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To: Dusty Road

I am curious about that also. Could be the child had asthma and had an attack. We carry liquid benadryl in our packs and will administer that to the bitten person as soon as possible.


32 posted on 05/16/2020 7:05:07 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: Enlightened1

When my granddaughter contracted Type I diabetes, the Emerson Hospital ER in Concord had her on glucose for several hours. When they finally figured it out, the transported by ambulance to Children’s in Boston. Sheesh. She’s okay now.


33 posted on 05/16/2020 7:06:02 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets ("Women's intuition" gave us the Salem witch trials and Kavanaugh hearings. Change my mind.)
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To: ryderann

Would be scarce eating. Rattlers are relatively rare in the area. I have spent a great deal of time in and around there, hunting with dogs and have never had a dog or a person get bit.


34 posted on 05/16/2020 7:09:17 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: Dusty Road
we don't know the reasons behind not using the venom....obviously it did not work when used....

a bad outcome does not always equate to bad care.....

sad story....

3 deaths of little girls in the last few days when out and about with their families is not a good start to the summer. (this snake bite, and two drowning deaths in a Utah canyon)

35 posted on 05/16/2020 7:19:22 AM PDT by cherry
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To: reg45

Couldn’t treat “elective” problems anyhow...so says the democrat governor.


36 posted on 05/16/2020 7:19:28 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Enlightened1

Antivenins are not without their own serious side effects - factor in the size of the child and we have a possible no win situation. If the doctors followed protocol it is just a very sad tragedy.


37 posted on 05/16/2020 7:20:53 AM PDT by greatvikingone
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To: Delta 21

“Where can society go to sue the parents for not being diligent enough to keep their 3 year old from getting bitten by a poisonous snake?”

Exactly...and pets too. You see these morons in shorts and flip flops blithely wandering around rattlesnake country with dogs off leash and kids running around.


38 posted on 05/16/2020 7:23:55 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: MayflowerMadam; All
wow people....the anti doc parade today...

my advice if you detest drs so much go get treated by your local education major when you have a heart attack....them,or maybe your social science grad....

generally, and I am biased since I work with them but medical doctors are some of the best people in the world....not perfect, not always right....

39 posted on 05/16/2020 7:25:17 AM PDT by cherry
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To: NorthWoody

Too bad because it is better than nothing at all.


40 posted on 05/16/2020 7:27:49 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Tyrants don't just give you your freedoms back. You have to take them.)
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