Posted by:
Greg Longhurst
at Sat May 8 06:53:38 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Greg Longhurst ]
Stating that there have never been fatalities from copperhead bites anywhere is a foolishly broad statement, and is, in fact, not true. This was cited in Poisonous Snakebites In The United States by Dr. H.M. Parrish: He cited T.S. Githens from the Scientific Monthly (Aug. 1935). One conclusion was that there were 6 lethal copperhead bites in the particular series studied, with a case fatality rate of 0.9%.
Parrish also writes that from 1950 through 1959, there were 138 snakebite deaths in the United States-an average of about 14 deaths per year. Of these, there was one death in Maryland in 1958 that was probably attributable to a copperhead. Thus, the case fatality rate for copperhead bites is probably about 0.01%. With modern medical treatment, deaths from copperhead bites are rare. Of 701 copperhead bites, 62% were grade 0 or grade I bites, which require little or no antiivenin, however, 27% were grade II, & 11% were grade III, both of which require prompt, proper medical treatment & the use of antivenin in pretty decent quantities.
I just hope that anybody who reads the first piece in this thread goes on to read the rest of the thread. If not, they will be sorely misinformed.
~~Greg~~
Venomous Snakes of Florida
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RE: Copperhead bite information. - Greg Longhurst, Sat May 8 06:53:38 2004