Do you know what to do for snake bites?

Rule 1: Do NOT apply pasta … call 911 instead

In the Yuma Sun newsroom, we follow a variety of public safety agencies and news outlets, locally, across the nation and even into Mexico.

A recent social media post from one of those agencies caught our attention.

The post was warning people to be careful of rattlesnakes, and urged caution in keeping safe from them.

But, should you find yourself the victim of a rattlesnake, the post also issued some pointers on what not to do.

The first two we’ve heard before: don’t try to suck the venom from the wound, and don’t cut the wound.

It was the last tip, however, that really caught our attention.

Do not apply pasta, coffee, etc.

Pasta or coffee? On a rattlesnake bite?

We’ve heard a lot of myths on how to handle a rattlesnake bite, but that was new.

We did some research, and found an article from the University of Sydney in Australia talking about colonial snake bite treatments, which included injecting chemicals and poisons such as ammonia and strychnine into the body – mind you, readers, this is the 1800s. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. The article notes more people were killed than saved.

Another popular remedy at the time? “Drinking copious quantities of alcohol, especially brandy.”

It wasn’t until the 1980s that reliable treatments emerged for snakebites, the university noted.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S. each year, with about 10 to 15 deaths.

About 25 percent of bites are dry – which means they lack venom. But who wants to risk that? Any snakebite requires medical treatment.

So what should you do?

Experts say the first step is to remain calm, immobilize the affected area, and keep the bite below the heart if possible. The Mayo Clinic says to sit or lie down so that the bite is in a neutral, comfortable position, and then clean the bite with soap and water.

Remove any watches, rings, etc. that might constrict swelling.

And of course, call 911, and get the victim safely to the nearest medical facility ASAP.

The Mayo Clinic also offered a few extra don’ts to the list. Don’t drink caffeine or alcohol. Don’t use a tourniquet, or apply ice. And don’t take any pain-relieving medications like aspirin or ibuprofen.

And above all – don’t try to catch the snake. If you can, take a photo from a safe distance, and try to remember what the snake looked like. Knowing what type of snake can help in the treatment, Mayo notes. And here’s an interesting side note on this.

“Most venomous snakes in North America have eyes like slits and are called pit vipers. Their heads are triangle-shaped and they have fangs. One exception is the coral snake, which has a cigar-shaped head and round pupils. Non-venomous snakes typically have rounded heads, round pupils and no fangs,” the Mayo Clinic notes.

Who knew?

As we enter rattlesnake season, it’s good to know what to do in case of emergency. Stay safe out there, readers, and on the off-chance that you do have a runin with a rattlesnake, don’t bother applying pasta. Call 911 and get professional treatment ASAP.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT?

You can write a letter to the editor or comment on this editorial online at yumasun.com

Unsigned editorials represent the viewpoint of this newspaper rather than an individual. Columns and letters to the editor represent the viewpoints of the persons writing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the Yuma Sun.