Snake Bite Immediate Action

This is a very timely topic.  These critters are just now begining to become active as the warm weather arrives.  Liza Howard's creds are great.  She is a NOLS instructor.  She blasts the common misperceptions found in cheap magazines and old books.

Snakebite First Aid on the Trails – Do’s, Don’ts, and Dry Bites

By Liza Howard 

Scenario: You’re running out at Hill Country State Natural Area training for the Cactus Rose 100. You’re on the Sotol Torture Trail near the Three Sisters when your left foot lands on this guy.

Or it could have been this guy.

It was hard to tell what brand he was because as soon he bit through your minimalist trail shoe, he disappeared under the Sotol.

You should:

A. Pull out your snake bite kit and suck the venom out

B. Fashion a constricting band out of your shoelace and tie it above the bite

C. Run back to the car and get ice out of your cooler and put it on the bite

D. Pull out your cell phone and call 911

E. Finish your training run, it was probably a dry bite and you need the miles

To read the rest of Liza's post go here.