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Rattlesnakes Bite 4 Over Weekend
One Man Wanted To Pet Snake, Doctors Say
kpho ^
| May 5, 2009
| Cara Liu
Posted on 05/05/2009 12:22:16 PM PDT by JoeProBono
PHOENIX -- Banner Poison Control Center treated four patients this past weekend for rattlesnake bites. There have been eight victims in the past week.
Patrick Hotchkiss of Quartzsite, Ariz., was one of the victims. He had just stepped off his porch Sunday afternoon when he was struck.
"I felt two sharp things, sort of akin to piece of broken glass that snaps off," said Patrick Hotchkiss, from his hospital bed at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital.
Hotchkiss said this particular snake was about 2-and-a-half feet long and did not rattle prior to striking.
"I should've been more vigilant. Usually I am," said Hotchkiss.
The snake bit him on the right heel. His ankle swelled to twice its normal size. He’s in some pain, but doctors said he’ll recover.
Some of the other victims were gardening or hiking. One child was playing in a yard.
But others got closer than they should have.
Doctors said one man was bitten on the hand after trying to pet a snake. They said the man had been drinking prior to the incident.
“We've seen several people who've tried petting the snakes, and even on occasion people trying to kiss the snake. Any of those things usually result in the patient getting bitten," said Dr. Michael Levine, a toxicologist at Banner Poison Control Center.
Doctors said it’s important to call for help or get to a hospital after a rattlesnake bite.
“Typically the snake's envenomation can cause a lot of muscle problems and can cause a lot of bleeding problems," said Dr. Levine.
Doctors also want to dispel some common myths surrounding rattlesnake bites.
They said do not use a tourniquet to restrict blood flow. Do not cut the bite site or try to suction out the venom. Also, do not try to capture the snake and bring it to the hospital. Identification of the snake is not necessary for treatment.
TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: rattlesnakes; snake
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FILE PHOTO
To: JoeProBono
2
posted on
05/05/2009 12:26:32 PM PDT
by
shadowcat
To: shadowcat
Snakes... Why’d it have to be snakes?!?
3
posted on
05/05/2009 12:31:18 PM PDT
by
IYAS9YAS
(Obama - what you get when you mix Affirmative Action with the Peter Principle.)
To: JoeProBono
Hey, like the flag says...
4
posted on
05/05/2009 12:31:28 PM PDT
by
VanDeKoik
(Enemy of the state since 1978!)
To: JoeProBono
Doctors said one man was bitten on the hand after trying to pet a snake.
They said the man had been drinking prior to the incident. ----
Ya think?
5
posted on
05/05/2009 12:33:22 PM PDT
by
freedomlover
(Make sure you're in love - before you move in the heavy stuff)
To: freedomlover
6
posted on
05/05/2009 12:36:55 PM PDT
by
Terpin
(Missing: One very clever and insightful tagline. Reward for safe return!)
To: VanDeKoik
7
posted on
05/05/2009 12:37:50 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: JoeProBono
JEEZ! I WON’T SLEEP FOR A WEEK, AND I’M NEVER GOING OUTSIDE AGAIN..........
8
posted on
05/05/2009 12:39:05 PM PDT
by
catchem
(Never underestimate the stupidity of the American voter!)
To: shadowcat
9
posted on
05/05/2009 12:39:29 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: catchem
10
posted on
05/05/2009 12:40:51 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: JoeProBono
I walked by one in that size range once. It was a cool, but sunny day and he was all stretched out catching rays. Slinked right around him and he didn’t even budge, he was probably asleep.
11
posted on
05/05/2009 12:41:40 PM PDT
by
Sax
To: Sax
12
posted on
05/05/2009 12:43:43 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: JoeProBono
Wow!
Hillary has lost some weight.
13
posted on
05/05/2009 12:45:35 PM PDT
by
N. Theknow
(Kennedys: Can't fly, can't ski, can't drive, can't skipper a boat, but they know what's best.)
To: JoeProBono
It looks like the distance from the grab point to the snake's head is a lot longer than the length of the grabber, so it can still turn around and bite her.
14
posted on
05/05/2009 12:45:42 PM PDT
by
KarlInOhio
(No free man bows to a foreign king.)
To: IYAS9YAS
15
posted on
05/05/2009 12:46:16 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: JoeProBono
Rattlesnakes don’t get that big. 7 feet tops. That’s gotta be Photoshopped.
16
posted on
05/05/2009 12:47:05 PM PDT
by
al_c
(Avoid the consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective of necessity)
To: N. Theknow
17
posted on
05/05/2009 12:48:48 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: Sax
Up here around the Great Lakes golfers need to be aware of the Massassauga Rattler. Its rattle is almost a hiss; it sounds like the breeze blowing through the dry grass.
18
posted on
05/05/2009 12:51:31 PM PDT
by
Cletus.D.Yokel
(FreepMail me if you want on the Bourbon ping list!)
To: al_c
19
posted on
05/05/2009 12:53:48 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: N. Theknow
Hillary? I thought it was Pelozi.
20
posted on
05/05/2009 12:54:29 PM PDT
by
shotdog
(I love my country; it's my government I'm afraid of.)
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