Do NOT do any of the following: Do not pick up the snake or try to trap it. Snakes can't hear you, but they can feel you, and the pounding of your feet might be enough to scare it off the trail if it's sunning. Between the classes I've taken in the last year and the shooting last year on Oct. 1, it's becoming harder and harder to justify leaving the house for any reason without a TQ on my belt. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, http://www.amazon.com/review/RSQET9EMO7CL3/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#RSQET9EMO7CL3. The instructor talked about tourniquets for maybe one minute, and about half of what he said was incorrect. I guess you're more likely to infect yourself or make it worse, and they aren't great at getting venom out. I live in Arizona and frequent desert trails. Absolutely. Tourniquet: Bad advice for a snake bite Share this: Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to … You're not going to die 10 minutes after getting bit, but don't try to finish your run lol. While just two snake bite deaths were reported in the state since 2010, one in 2013 and one in 2015, around a fourth of those who sought assistance through the GPCC needed the antidote. Its sometimes tricky when running fast downhill, but you mentioned several good points to keep in mind. Both thin your blood, which is also what the snake venom does. Rattle snakes will let you know. and private medical organizations offer free bleeding control classes, I'm not sure if it's okay to post links here, but you can find classes near you at https://cms.bleedingcontrol.org/class/search or https://www.stopthebleedday.org I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be better prepared. Pay attention to the color markings, the rattle (or lack thereof) and the shape of the head. I highly recommend NAR for first aid stuff, I highly recommend NAR for first aid stuff. Snake species. I always carry a phone with me in case of an emergency, however the reception in the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains is pretty bad. The chances of you getting a tourniquet on before this has happened is minuscule. If you're running in bush regularly learn the proper snake bite treatment technique for your snakes, being a phone or a friend is basically it. TQs are for limbs only, and you should avoid the joints. He knows what he's talking about. Have you also noticed the number of range masters / RSOs carrying TQs? The best thing to do if you get but by a snake is to NOT panic, and try to write down details or take a photo of the snake. A couple of months ago I took a six-hour traumatic bleeding control class from North American Rescue. Among other topics we talked extensively about using tourniquets, then we had a hands-on demonstration of several brands of tourniquets and discussed the pros and cons of each, how they are carried and deployed, and how they have improved with each "generation" of development. That was way more informative than I was expecting an amazon review to be! Tourniquet ineffectiveness to reduce the severity of envenomating after Crotalus durissus snake bite in Belo Horizonte Gerais, Brazil.Toxicon 1998; 36:805-806. The rule of "fuuuuuuck that's a lot of blood". I think I'm way more likely to use it on someone else though. Which did you prefer? Thanks all! Thanks, well worth the read. There are no long term effects, and they're not painful. Or if I would even go running... New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. None of these "treatments" help and most of them make things worse. I know a lot of the trails in LA can be spotty with cell sevice, but if you're way out on a trail, it wouldn't be a bad idea to try getting through to 911. Learning and sharing information to aid in emergency preparedness as it relates to disasters both natural and man-made. While I have a general idea of what to do, it is reassuring to see others agree with best practices. Toxicon 1998;36: 805–808. Also, don’t try to let the venom “bleed out” by cutting marks on the bite with a blade. Their gear is the highest quality. He found the bitemarks and quickly fastened a tourniquet two inches above the wound, using a friend’s belt. Amaral CF, Campolina D, Dias MB, Bueno CM, Rezende NA. I live in Los Angeles and have been running a lot of trails lately. If there is no reception, then walking to an area with reception or walking to an area with other bikers, hikers or runners. Press J to jump to the feed. TONY DALY-CREWS: For a snake bite, don't use a tourniquet. The advice here is great, but as we know as trail runners in LA, cell service can often be non-existent on our trails. Just out of curiosity where did you find out about the NAR first aid courses? A tourniquet was in place just below the right knee. A 10-year-old boy presented after a snake bite to the right calf. • Do not apply a constriction band or tourniquet with a belt or rope as that will cut off the circulation. ... saved a local elderly woman from a venomous snake bite … Better avoid getting bit then eh!?! • Get medical help. Mostly just keep your eyes open and be careful. Also, I recommend anyone regularly running in an area with wildlife should familiarize themselves with the animals they could possibly encounter. Don't use a tourniquet, cut the bite, or suck out the venom if you're bitten by a venomous snake. If you can take a picture or describe the snake, that's good but not essential. It's also a good idea to brush up on the poisonous snakes in your region. I'd be dead in minutes from the adrenaline pumping the venom straight to my heart. Also, this might be hard in the moment, but the more information you have on the type of snake the easier it's going to be for doctors to treat it, so try and get a good glimpse of whatever bit you. I am waiting until after Christmas to order mine at this point. Seek medical attention if you are not experienced with identifying snakes. Don't run with headphones on trails. That sucks that your instructer told wrong things. I wonder how it would go down if a bitten person had to backpack 20 miles back to the car to get any help.. If you do get bit, you need to get out of there as fast as possible while keeping your heart rate low. In winter look out for exposed paths and rocks where they can warm up. Insurance for tough times. • Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart. I appreciate everyone's responses here. Do not raise the area of the bite above the victim’s heart. You should instead call 911, remove any tight clothing or jewelry, and move as little as possible. Don't listen to people who say using a tourniquet = losing a limb. • Do not drink any alcohol or take aspirin after a snakebite. CORNISH: That's one of the listeners who wrote us about this, Tony Daly-Crews of Buckeye, Ariz. 1 The sequence of clinical events though simulates delayed envenomation of cobra bite; important differences are bleeding from the puncture wounds, muscle spasms and no evidence of flaccidity. If you have a phone call for medical attention and stay put -- if you have to move a little bit get a big stick to use as a crutch and stay off it. 8.) http://www.amazon.com/review/RSQET9EMO7CL3/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#RSQET9EMO7CL3. Not sure. Arteries don't retract a huge distance when cut. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Don't run, and don't use those snake bite kits.