Posted on 05/02/2018 4:09:38 PM PDT by I Drive Too Fast
“The only endemic snake in the US that will kill an adult is a coral snake.”
The victim in this story notwithstanding.
I’m assuming from your screen name that your are an MD. If an MD is present or even an EMS responder I would probably defer to their better judgment in that particular case. But if I or a family member is bit by a venomous snake somewhere many miles from help, I intend to use a stun gun in the same way others have and asserted it saved their lives. Of course I would not substitute this for getting the first available professional medical attention.
When I was a kid, we carried a snake bite kit with our camping gear. This apparently included something to cut the bitten area open more to help increase blood flow and get rid of the poison. Of course, it is now considered useless and even counterproductive. The shock treatment might be the same or it might only work for some very select cases based on the many experiences. And maybe medical science will further test these to determine when they might be helpful. But until there is more evidence otherwise, I consider this to be a reasonable response in rare cases in which immediate medical attention is unavailable.
When I was about 12, we went over to a friends house who had a pond behind his house. The cottonmouths were mating in giant rolling balls in the water.
We got the brilliant idea to tie large treble hooks on our fishing poles and foul hook them and then kill them with a baseball bat.
God looks after fools and children.
I saw a cottonmouth also called a “water rattler” at a state park. Ever hear of that?
“There is no legitimate medical study that confirms it. And the anecdotal evidence is easily brushed aside. It works every time on people with dry bites. You cannot post a single peer reviewed study from any medical journal that says it is effective.”
In an ideal world we could rely on unbiased, peer reviewed, scientific research for such things. However, this does not always exist. It is just as possible that some people benefitted from the shock as it is possible that they were cases that were not that serous to begin with. But you could probably say the same for a lot of peer reviewed medical procedures, such as extreme measures treating cancer. It is not always possible to do completely controlled experiments. There are endless reasons for this, which researchers attempt to compensate for, but often it is impossible to eliminate.
Just like they used to be able to “prove” pellagra was caused by a germ. And they were sure peptic ulcers were caused by stress.
Likewise with scurvy. And with the ulcers you do have correlation, just not causation. Apparently ulcers may cause stress. Who could have guessed?
“’Common sense’ and true science do not often mix well.”
Surprisingly, many scientific realities do defy common sense. However, misinterpreting science can be more dangerous than relying on common sense. Dr. D. W. Bliss’s attempts to save President Garfield comes to mind.
I have treated many snake bites. The gentleman in question died due to an underlying heart condition. The fact is only about 1/3 of rattlesnake bites are envenomnated and far more harm is done to snake bite victims by well meaning people trying to help than by the snake. If you choose to use an ineffective and likely harmful procedure that is up to you but time would be better spent seeking medical care.
Even if the bite is envenomnated you have hours not minutes to seek help and there are satellite devices that are inexpensive and can summon help even in the most remote areas. I would invest in one of those rather than a taser. And in the wilderness I carry a real gun that can help with 2 and 4 legged predators not a taser....
Yep, they’ll tie up in knots.
Friend and I went frog gigging one night and as we were leaving my daddy said “Don’t gig a snake.”. I gigged a cotton mouth. Yep, God takes care of fools.
My brother once caught a cotton mouth. He had clubbed it a few times so it was somewhat stunned. Then he caught a king snake and put them together in the front yard and watched the king snake kill the cotton mouth. Then we killed the king snake.
Daddy came home and saw the dead king snake and wire us out.
“There is absolutely no scientifically sound evidence that electric shock or the use of any stun gun on a snakebite, either in man or animal, is effective in preventing the effects of venomous snakebite.”
It is very hard to establish this for every scenario. Admittedly the supposed cases in which it helped are anecdotal.
“Application of electric shock with a stun gun is intended to immobilize a target, making it go down. It is risky and dangerous to apply this sort of insult to a person who may already be severely compromised by a venomous snakebite. The shock itself can be painful and damage to local tissues can exacerbate local tissue necrosis and infection.”
A brief application of a stun gun does not have this effect. I’ve been shocked with one before. It just made me move. There are cases where stun guns were used and the localized inflammation and necrosis have been lessened, according to testimonials of people who used this approach. This includes those who have used it to respond to spider bites and allergic reactions (known and diagnosed ones) to yellow jackets.
“use of a stun gun on electro shock can be dangerous as well as a useless, time wasting exercise and time would be better spent applying more conventional means of first aid and arranging transport to the nearest medical facility.”
This may be true in many cases, however it was not the case for the person in this article. I’m not saying it is reasonable to think he would have been saved by being shocked with a stun gun. However, it is possible. And it is possible that doing so only requires a minute or so delay in seeking other medical attention. This is another reason I favor it.
If medical science has a definitive solution in a given situation I certainly prefer that. Unfortunately I have seen endless cases of people following doctor’s orders and fully disclosing every symptom and medical history detail and yet the approach of the most qualified doctors often failed and exacerbated the problem. In general, modern medicine is a tremendous boon. And many times the failures of doctors are also the result of not applying the latest or most specifically indicated solutions, but it is nonetheless a serious problem.
I’d have killed it
I’m no snake lover
Except Kings
I lived in Brasil where after flooding snake bites especially to small kids were epidemic
Have it your way. You know it all anyway. I’m just glad I don’t have to go hiking with you.
I would not want to get within five snake lengths if it was coiled and hissing, no chance of catching a coiled snake ready to strike, coiled and sleeping in the cold , no problem
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>> “There is absolutely no scientifically sound evidence that electric shock or the use of any stun gun on a snakebite, either in man or animal, is effective in preventing the effects of venomous snakebite.” <<
That statement will cost lives!
Stun guns work well if used immediately.
They dramatically simplify the complex protiens of the venom instantly if done correctly.
If you wait,and allow the venom to spread, there is no way it will work, as the blood moves rapidly.
I’ve used a stun gun on myself 3 times, and each time it reduced the venom to an insignificant mild toxin.
For a while I was stirring up rattlers every spring when I mowed our meadows. Now there are far fewer of them around.
LOL thanks for the chuckles.
rattlers can strike 2/3 of their body length uncoiled. Do not for a minute think they can only strike if coiled.
This probably won't surprise you, but I have intentionally electrocuted myself hundreds of times.
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Rattlers do not “coil” nor do they hiss.
They can instantly extend to 1/3 of their length if they are resting in their normal zig-zag position. If they are pointed down slope they can reach farther.
You get bit when you don’t see them first. If you see them first, you have the advantage. You have to look far ahead, not just at your feet.
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>> “rattlers can strike 2/3 of their body length uncoiled.” <<
Flunked physics? - That’s 1/3.
Knowledge is better than blind fear.
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LOL. I’m not afraid of snakes but thanks anyway.
Wouldn't it have been simpler, and less painful, to use the stun gun on the snakes ?
State universities publish unproven conjecture at our expense constantly.
Nobody has the time or motivation to straighten out their acts
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