Hiking Made Easy – Most of the hikers ask what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking? For that reason, we have compiled this comprehensive guide to help you!
One of the biggest nightmares for hikers and climbers is to face snakes during hiking and not knowing what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking. As the temperature increases and the sun heats mountains, the sight of snakes on trails becomes frequent.
And it’s very common for the summer hikers, especially in California and South America, to encounter snakes during their journey. So, if you are planning to set off for hiking in an area where snakes are common, you should have complete knowledge of what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking.
It is a common saying that snakes are more afraid of humans and don’t want to have an interaction. But, when they feel threatened, instead of running away, like humans or escaping from a place, they prefer to attack. This attack is usually taken as a defensive measure because of the presence of humans in their territory.
Most of the time, hikers don’t themselves indulge with snakes but rather become a victim of snake bites, and most of these hikers have zero ideas of what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking.
Here, in this article, we are going to lighten up your mind with all the crucial aspects you should know about what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking in the wild areas and how to prevent yourself from getting harmed by snakes.
Also Read: How to Avoid Snakes While Hiking – 10 Effective Tips
What Are Rattlesnakes And Where Are They Found?
There are 30 known species of rattlesnakes. They are called rattlesnakes because of the presence of rattle or partial rattle, which comprises interlocking rings.
These rings are made of the same keratin that makes human fingernails. And when the snake moves, it vibrates the segments of keratin, which gives the sound of hissing, which is usually taken as a warning sign that the rattlesnake is near.
They are found in the south region of America, California, and Mexico. In the United States, they are found in the desert sand runs of southwest regions and also in the swamplands of the southeast area.
The hikers of these areas are especially advised to take complete precautions before setting off for an adventurous journey. These poisonous snakes can be found anywhere, starting from the sea level to the altitude ranging 11,000 ft.
They range in size from 1 to 7 feet in length with heavy bodies that are diamond-shaped with a special pit on each side. They are usually out in the summer season.
While in the regions where the temperature lowers to less than 40°F, they prefer to hibernate like lizards. Rattlesnakes are cold-blooded and sunbath on the flat surface during daylight to warm up themselves.
So, if you are a hiker or want to be one in the region where rattlesnakes are common, you should know what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking. In the regions where the daytime temperature is 90°F or greater, these snakes are more active during the night.
The Rattlesnake Venom
If you want to know what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking, you should have a complete guide on what rattlesnakes are, how they attack, and what you can do to handle them.
Rattlesnakes vary from region to region. And different species of rattlesnakes hold different strengths and makeup of venom.
And it usually depends on the place where they live. Venom is a poison that is produced in the snake’s upper jaw. From the upper jaws, it travels through the venom duct to the large hollow fangs from where they deliver it to their enemies.
Snakes have complete control over the amount of venom they release, and they inject the poisonous material into their opponents rapidly.
What to Do If Bitten By A Rattlesnake While Hiking?
Prevention
When it comes to snakes, there is no way to fight them. It’s best if you avoid them. You should avoid all the areas where snakes can be hiding, such as under the rocks and logs.
Snakes only attack you if they feel threatened. Never provoke them to do so. Even your mere presence is enough to aggravate them.
When you are in an area where there is a danger of the presence of snakes, it’s hard for you to see your foot on the ground. You should tap the ground or foliage with your stick; that will give a warning sign to snakes, and they will move away to avoid human interaction.
You should have a complete guide on what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking before setting off for your journey.
You should be wearing long pants and long boots when hiking in an area where rattlesnakes are found. And if you see a rattlesnake while hiking, follow these steps that will save you from them:
- Stay calm and do not panic
- Stay at least 5 ft away from the snake and avoid eye contact
- Do not try to kill the snake. As it will infuriate the snake and increase the risk of snake biting.
- Alert all your team about the presence of snakes and advise them to be careful. Keep your pets and children in a safe spot that is far away from the snakes.
Even if all these precautions remain unfruitful, and you or any of your crew members get bitten. Here is what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking.
A Rattlesnake Bite Is A Medical Emergency
Symptoms
If you or anyone around you is bitten by a snake, logic and common sense are two main pieces of equipment you should have to understand what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking.
The first thing is to know how to diagnose a snake bite or if it is really a snake bite or not even if it is a snake bite, whether it is venomous or not.
If you were there while a snake was biting a person, you could have a better idea of venomous snakes, but if you were not around, you should find the sign of two fang bite marks and skin discoloration. Other important signs include the following:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Low blood pressure
- Slurred speech
- Sweating
- Abnormality of mental function
- Paralysis
- Numbness
- Too rapid or too weak pulse
- Change of skin color
- Swelling
- Tingling
- Tissue damage
- Thirst
- Eyelid drooping
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Difficult breathing
If you have acknowledged these signs and symptoms, then it is indeed a rattlesnake bite, and now you should have a complete guide on what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking. And the foremost thing is to go for immediate local medical help.
Pre Medics
Now, when you know that the person sitting next to you is indeed bitten by a rattlesnake, you have called 911 or the medical emergency department or Red Cross.
Meanwhile, here are the essential things of what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking that you should know before the medical team arrives for help.
- Ask the person how he is feeling, check the skin color and color of limbs, and note any changes that occur.
- It is also advised to wash the wound with clean water and put a bandage on it to slow the spreading of venom in the body.
- Place the end of the bandage on the skin and, by overlapping technique, wrap the skin. Take a start from a point that is far away from the heart and cover body parts in sections that are the whole arm, the whole feet, or a whole calf. For wrapping a joint, use the figure 8 technique to wrap it.
- Check the upper and lower surface of the bite, especially in the fingers, for warmth and color change.
- Keep the wounded area where the snake had been bitten below the surface of the heart, and make sure that the injured area remains still.
- Suppose the person who has been bitten by a rattlesnake is in a perilous place and has to move out of it. Someone else should carry him to a safe place. He should avoid walking and moving the injured area.
- If the injured person has been wearing any rings or watches, remove them immediately in anticipation of swelling.
- Feel the tenderness and swelling in the affected person and note down the time of its appearance.
Complications
If you are up to knowing what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking, you should also know the possible complications that come with the snake bite. The foremost complication is allergy reaction, which in terms of medical studies is known as anaphylactic shock or anaphylaxis.
Some people develop anaphylaxis immediately after the snake bite, or in some, it happens after several hours. Some indications of these allergy reactions are mentioned here:
- Skin becomes itchy with hives and flushing
- Swelling on the face, tongue, lips, and throat leads to difficulty in breathing.
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Rapid heartbeat
In the case of lowering blood pressure, the following symptoms can also be seen when an allergic reaction takes place.
- Faintness or loss of consciousness
- Drowsiness
- Eyelid drooping
- Cold, clammy, and sticky skin
- In severe cases, blindness
What To Do If Bitten By A Rattlesnake While Hiking And Now Developing Shock
When dealing with what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking and a person affected gets an allergic reaction which is now going to be a shock, these are the signs which are similar to anaphylaxis, but these show that the injured person is going to be in shock.
- Dizziness and tiredness
- Pale, cold, sticky, slimy, and clammy skin
- Sweating
- Deep, shallow, and rapid breathing
- Blindness or weakening of eyesight
- Blurry vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
If the injured person has any of these symptoms, the following are the measures that should be taken immediately:
- Lay that person down
- Keep the injured area at a position lower than the heart
- Use a coat or blanket to keep him warm
- Raise their legs to let the blood passage through the brain.
What Should Be Avoided
When handling what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking, the following things should be kept in mind. Never let the injured person take these steps:
- Don’t allow him to walk or move that exert him or don’t make him carry any heavy object
- No need to apply any ointment or tourniquet
- Don’t cold compress or heat compress the wound
- Don’t put a knife or razor on a wound, and avoid cutting it. It can damage the wound more badly
- Unless you are a medical expert, don’t try to suck out the venom
- Don’t go for over-the-counter medicines for pain-relieving or stimulants unless advised by the doctor.
- Don’t let the injured person eat or drink anything.
- No need to raise the site of infection over the heart. It will cause blood to travel to the heart with venom in it.
- Don’t go after the snake or put it up even if it’s dead. Even the deadly poisonous snake can bite you because of a reflex reaction that continues for several hours after the snake’s death.
Conclusion
Although around 8000 people from all around the world are bitten by poisonous snakes each year, only almost 8 of them are reported to be dead. These are usually people with weak immune systems or with other health problems. However, it’s still not something that can be taken easily by hikers and climbers.
Though snakes don’t want to waste their poison on humans, anything can happen if you enter their territory. And if the snake’s bite victim is not treated on time, the venom can become deadly. Even a bite that is so harmless can cause a harmful allergic reaction if not treated quickly and properly.
