Hiker treated for rattlesnake bite, prompting early-in-the-season warning about snake activity

PHOENIX — Watch where you step — Banner Health is urging Arizonans to use caution after a rattlesnake bite case over the weekend.

A 78-year-old woman was reportedly bitten on the ankle while on a hike in the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area in Cave Creek on Saturday.

Banner Health - University Medical Center Phoenix says the woman was their first rattlesnake bite patient of the year, which they normally do not see until March.

The medical center usually treats around 50-60 rattlesnake bite patients each year.

The rising temperatures may be bringing snakes out earlier, so health officials are warning locals to be aware of their surroundings and know what to do in the event of a snake bite.

Here are some tips from Banner Health, Rural Metro Fire, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center:

Preventing snake bites and keeping them away from your home:

• Clean up areas where snakes may seek shelter, like brush, wood, rock and debris piles.
• Keep up on regular mowing and trimming of lawns and weeds.
• Control rodent populations. Bird feeders and water are two of the main items that draw rodents to yards, which in turn can attract snakes.
• Always wear shoes while outside and never put your hands where you cannot see them.
• Practice caution when stepping over fallen logs and rock outcroppings, and when walking along creek banks or through underbrush.
• Leave wild animals alone. 50 to 70% of reptile bites managed by the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center were provoked by the person who was bitten--that is, someone was trying to kill, capture or harass the animal.
• Be aware of peak movement times. Reptiles in Arizona are most active in the warmer months of April through October. During the hottest months, they will be most active at night. They may be encountered during the day in spring and fall or during a warm day in winter.
• Watch where you put your hands and feet. Try to keep your hands and feet out of crevices in rocks, wood piles and deep grass. Always carry a flashlight and wear shoes or boots when walking after dark.
• Dead snakes can bite. Never handle a venomous reptile, even after it's dead. Reflex strikes with injected venom can occur for several hours after death.
• Install outdoor lighting for yards, porches and sidewalks. If you see a venomous reptile in your yard, it is probably just "passing through." However, if you are concerned about a dangerous animal in your yard, seek professional assistance in removing it.

If you encounter a snake:

• Stay calm and don’t panic. Keep at least 5 feet from the snake. Make sure to give it plenty of space.
• Do not try to kill the snake. Doing so is illegal in some states and greatly increases the chance the snake will bite you.
• Do not throw anything at the snake, like rocks or sticks. Rattlesnakes may respond to this by moving toward the person doing the throwing, rather than away from them.
• Alert other people to the snake's location. Advise them to use caution and to respect the snake. Keep children and pets away from the area.
• Keep your dog on a leash when hiking or camping. Allowing your dog to roam around increases the chance the dog will find a snake and get bitten.
• If you hear a rattle, don't jump or panic. Try to locate where the sound is coming from before trying to move, so you don't step closer to the snake or on top of it.

What to do if you are bitten:

• Assume envenomation has occurred. Symptoms of snakebites vary by species but may include burning pain at the site of the bite, local swelling, and discoloration of the skin, tremors, slurred speech, blurred vision, drowsiness or euphoria.
• Call 911 immediately or get the victim to a medical facility as soon as possible.
• Call the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-222-1222 for assistance in answering any questions related to venomous bites or stings.
• Try to identify the species of snake, if possible, taking care to avoid another person being bitten. Identification is not necessary but may be helpful.
• Keep the victim as calm as possible. This helps reduce the spread of venom and the onset of shock.
• Know and be alert for the symptoms of shock, and institute the proper treatment should it ensue.
• Wash the bite area with a disinfectant if available.
• Remove jewelry, as well as tight-fitting clothes, before the onset of swelling.
• Reduce or prevent movement of a bitten extremity, using a splint if possible. Position the extremity below the level of the heart.

What NOT to do:

• Do not make incisions over the bite marks.
• Do not use a tourniquet or other constricting ban except in extreme cases of envenomation, and then only if properly trained in the technique.
• Do not use cryotherapy (including cold compresses, ice, dry ice, chemical ice packs, spray refrigerants, and freezing).
• Do not drink alcohol, as it dilates blood vessels and increases absorption from the circulatory system, and thus helps spread venom faster.
• Do not use aspirin or related medications to relieve pain, because they increase bleeding. A pain reliever not containing aspirin, however, may be used.
• Do not use the pressure/immobilization technique, which consists of firmly wrapping the entire limb with an elastic bandage and then splinting, especially for pit viper bites as it can produce local swelling and tissue damage.
• Do not administer antivenom in the field unless properly trained in the procedure, unless evacuation to a medical facility will take many hours or days, or unless envenomation has been extreme.