What to do When You Encounter a Rattlesnake on the Trail? – Arizona Hikers Guide

A little over a month ago I found myself face to foot with my first rattlesnake of the season. I was out taking photos of Canyon Lake on Boulder Canyon Trail when it began to get dark. I thought to myself, “hmm, it’s getting dark, I wonder if the rattlers will start coming out”. As soon as the thought crossed my mind I looked down at my feet and a rattlesnake slithered not 6 inches from my foot. My very next thought was, “AAAAHHHH snake, run away!!!” Immediately I took a step back and froze just staring at the fascinating and frightening creature as it coiled up just a few feet from me. I wasn’t scared as much as I was surprised and unprepared for the encounter. As I stood there watching this beautiful animal warn me it’s rattle I thought about what the heck I would have done if it bit me. I felt completely unprepared and uneducated about the situation. After some serious research I found some very interesting do’s and don’ts on rattlesnake first aid. Below is the most pertinent information you’ll need if you find yourself in a staring contest with one of our 13 varieties of pit vipers in the state. Enjoy!

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor nor am I a professional on rattlesnakes. This information was gathered from other sources through my own research.

Before we get into this, let’s straighten out some misconceptions that give these reptiles a bad reputation.

According to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention report, venomous snakes only kill about 6 people per year. Considering the fact that cows kill 28 people per year and bees, wasps, and hornets kill 58 people per year, the number of fatalities by snakes are very low.
Fatalities from reptile bites are less than 1% according to Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center
Given the chance, a rattlesnake will try to move away from you. Rattlesnakes do not attack humans and strike only as a last resort
As stated by UF Wildlife, “estimates show that 20-25% of all pit viper bites and 50% of Coral Snake bites are dry bites”. Dry bites are bites where the snake does not release venom into it’s victim or releases it prematurely before entering the skin.

Hopefully these points will help clear some of the scary myths about rattlesnakes.

When we go hiking in the wilderness we enter a snake’s natural habitat. They live here, we don’t. Use caution and some common sense when entering a wild animals home. Here are some tips to help prevent the vast majority of snake bite attacks;

Don’t pester, provoke, or try to catch a snake if you see one. That would be dumb. According to the Arizona and Poison Information Center, 50 to 70% of reptile bites managed by this group were provoked by the person who was bitten–that is, someone was trying to kill, capture or harass the animal.
Rattlesnakes live in dens and hide in small spaces like in between rocks and under bushes. Don’t stick your hands in places they shouldn’t be (good advice in general :)).
If you are entering an area where you can’t see your feet, tall grass for example, kick ahead to give snakes a bit of a warning before you enter.
Avoid peak season snake times. Snakes love warm weather and are most active in Arizona during the warmer days in spring, fall, and winter and at night in the hotter months.

Here is a short video about rattlesnakes;

You got bit. Now what? Here is a list provided by The Mayo Clinic;

The Do’s

Remain calm and move beyond the snake’s striking distance.
Remove jewelry and tight clothing before you start to swell.
Position yourself, if possible, so that the bite is at or below the level of your heart.
Clean the wound, but don’t flush it with water. Cover it with a clean, dry dressing.

The Don’ts

Don’t use a tourniquet or apply ice.
Don’t cut the wound or attempt to remove the venom.
Don’t drink caffeine or alcohol, which could speed the rate at which your body absorbs venom.
Don’t try to capture the snake. Try to remember its color and shape so that you can describe it, which will help in your treatment.

Additional No No’s

Don’t suck the venom out of the bite area. You will not extract enough venom and it does not work
Don’t use a suction device if you are an hour or less away from help
Don’t take any pain medications
Don’t pick up a dead snake. Dead snakes can still strike (and will try to) several hours after being killed

Anti-venom is the only real effective way to treat rattlesnake bites. It is crucial that every snakebite victim find their way to the nearest emergency room as quickly as possible. Arizona emergency rooms keep anti-venom in stock and can likely treat victims immediately. Here is a list of symptoms given by Medline Plus;

Bleeding Breathing difficulty Blurred vision Eyelid drooping Low blood pressure Nausea and vomiting Numbness Pain at site of bite Paralysis Rapid pulse Skin color changes Swelling Tingling Tissue damage Thirst Tiredness Weakness

Weak pulse

Far away from home?

If you are in the backcountry the best advice is to get to the nearest hospital as fast as possible. Banner Health also recommends the following;

Suction: Do NOT suck the bite wound with your mouth. You can buy a snakebite kit, which contains a suction device (Sawyer Extractor).
Lymphatic Constriction Band: In this technique a loose band is applied around the arm or leg between the bite wound and the heart. A number of experts recommend this, because it theoretically will reduce the distribution of the venom to the remainder of the body and thus delay systemic effects.
Instructions assume that the victim is more than 2 hours from the hospital, and that less than 30 minutes have elapsed since the bite wound.

Place a constriction band around the extremity, at least 2 inches above the bite, but not around a joint. Use a wide band such as elastic bandage or a piece of clothing.
Make the band snug, but not tight enough to stop blood flow in the veins or arteries. It should be loose enough to easily slip a finger under it. If the hand or foot turns white and cold or the pulse disappears, the tourniquet is much too tight and may damage normal tissue.
Once applied, leave it in place until you have been evaluated by a medical professional

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!!