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SUN-SENTINEL (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) 10 February 06 Pines police hunt kin of man near death after being bitten by snake
Pembroke Pines: A man bitten by a poisonous snake is in critical condition, and officials say he could die if investigators cannot determine what type of snake bit him, news partner NBC 6 reported on Friday.
Pembroke Pines police took the man into custody because he was trespassing at Pines Lakes Elementary School, 10300 Johnson St., around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. After he was arrested, police noticed he was having trouble breathing and had him taken to a hospital.
Doctors at Memorial West Hospital determined the man had been bitten by a poisonous snake and was suffering from shock.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has 43 different types of anti-venin, but they cannot give the man anti-venin until they determine what kind of snake bit him.
Police said they need to speak with the man's family for clues. The man was carrying Mexican identification that says he is Damien Rubio Hernandez, 30, of Nuevo Laredo.
If you recognize the man, call Pembroke Pines police at 954-436-2200 or call Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
No charges are pending. Authorities figure the man's bizarre behavior occurred because of the snakebite.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-210pinessnakebite,0,6460964.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

MIAMI HERALD (Florida) 10 February 06 Man remains in critical condition after snake-bite incident in Pines
The man who was initially arrested for trespassing at a Pembroke Pines elementary school on Thursday until police learned he was a snake-bite victim remains in critical but stable condition.
He was identified as Damien Rubio Hernandez, 31, according to Pembroke Pines police Capt. Larry Diaco. Police are not aware of his address.
Officials at Pines Lakes Elementary School called police at around 1 p.m. Thursday after they saw Hernandez on school property. He was acting bizarrely and running back and forth onto school grounds when approached by administrators, police said.
School officials asked Hernandez to leave school grounds. He left, but returned within minutes, police said.
When officers arrived on the scene, he ran from them, then ran back to them. He was taken into custody without incident, and was charged with trespassing, police said.
Hernandez was having trouble breathing at a police substation in the Pembroke Lakes Mall, and rescue officials took him to Memorial Hospital West, according to the hospital.
At the hospital, rescue workers realized he had been bitten on his hand by a snake.
''We no longer have any charges against him,'' Diaco said. ``It was more than likely his medical condition that caused him to stay there and act strange.''
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Pembroke Pines Police Department at 954-431-2200, email to Tips@ppines.com, or call Crimestoppers
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13840909.htm

This guy has gotten over 50 vials of and is not responding to treatment. Did anyone here sell this guy a hot snake and if so what?

http://www.local10.com/news/6901072/detail.html

"In this case, he doesn't seem to be responding to the proper treatment of snakes native to the United States, so we're leaning to believe that it may be from another part (of the world)," said Miami-Dade fire-rescue Capt. Al Cruz with the anti-venom unit. "We carry 43 different anti-venoms that cover 98 percent of all the world's venomous snakes."
"Rubio has been treated with more than 50 vials of anti-venom -- more than four times the average dose."

http://www.local10.com/news/6901072/detail.html

No, the man is a Mexican immigrant and is not a snake keeper what so ever. As of yesterday, he finally started to respond to treatment.

Wow, wonder what the heck tagged the guy. I have heard of cobra populations in south florida running wild. 50 vials is nuts.

50 vials!!!!!!!!!!! Thankfully he's responding.
That's gotta be expensive treatment. Who pays for that???

Those doctors their medical practioners license?!? 50 vials! without any idea what type of bite they're trying to treat??? these so called "doctors" may be much more dangerous than venomous snake bites,perhaps we should consider some sort of legislation to protect the public?
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That's a good point. Considering his breathing was eratic wouldn't that tell you that it was a neurotoxic venom? Why would they just put him on a respirator and let it work itself out?? I have heard of that happening with a black mamba bite(not sure how true it is) but wouldn't that be better that potentially killing the guy with with 50 vials of random antivenom?

They'll just step back,and throw additional vials at him from a distance..."just in case."
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"Throw the vials at him from a distance"!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOOD ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like they were pretty desperate,and did not have much of a choice.
At least he is now responding . I think someone posted that he was a Mexican immigrant and is not a snake keeper.
So there is no snake keepers to blame for this !

I question the diagnosis. Doctors determined snake bite due to erratic behavior and shock..and what else? If he wasn't envenomated at all, antivenom probably wouldn't help. Bed rest and general supportive therapy can "cure" a lot of conditions. Floridian herpers, please keep us posted

Unfortunately, there is not a lot of information concerning this possible envenomation due to the need to protect the patient's privacy. It is possible that there were puncture wound(s)noted, possible pain and swelling, toxicology screenings, urinalysis and blood work performed to determine the potential for envenomation. I assume there was something to indicate a possible envenomation prior to the treatment. Also, considering that most illegal immigrants in South Florida are engaged in agricultural or nursery work, there is a serious possibility of snakebite. The employers of these folks are also quick to let them go if they are injured on the job because they are undocumented, uninsured, paid in cash, etc. I think a snake bite woulds qualify as an on the job injury, but I doubt that the employer would readily acknowledge any association with this guy.

This is truly a great thing for the hot snake hobby isn't it I guess we'll find out how bad it is soon when somebody figures out wheather or not someone sold him the snake.

He was on a School property without their permission, was arrested and now has a snakebite. Anyone want to bet that he sues the School, and the police department? Forget guard dogs, use guard Cobras. Was he legally in the country?

Dave

This sounds like the other case from south Florida,from a couple of months ago, where the man claimed to have been bitten by a venomous snake. FFWC and venom1 quickly determined that he had recieved a large dose of crazy and not much else.
Damn "invisible cobras" always preying on those with chemical imbalances, and anywhere in S FL you find "Invisible Cobras" you can also find chupacabras. I wonder if Dade county hospitals carry any Wyeth Chupacabralidae polyvalent?
Ryan

But,seems it's a 50 vial minimum with one hell of a cover charge!
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The accepted treatment for chupacabra envenomation is to apply a constriction band around the neck followed by electric shock treatment. This is only minimally effective, but can be quite entertaing if done properly.

no, no, no... there is an effective chupacabra polyvalent (it also protects against sasquatch, mothmen and yeti). it goes by many brand names, but you all probably know it as 'malt liquor.' it is most effective while served warm, in a brown paper bag-covered bottle and before noon. many 'vials' work better than codeine or crofab.