Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Reading a recent bite acoount got me thinking about getting a bite protocol done since I might not be able to speak for myself.... looking on line, I find several hard to swallow in the fassion I wanna use them.....

I wanna be able to walk into the hospital and hand the packet to them with instructions on fasciatomies and compartment pressure numbers, blood work required, treatment necessary etc etc etc....

Does anyone have a protocol similar to what I'm describing? I would appreciate any help.....

Right now I only have North american Crotalus

Very simple to put together a three ring binder “grab book” with all of your info in there. That’s what I would grab and take with me to the emergency room. Just print every thing out and include it. I put a Table of Contents, copy of my permit, all the vitals, etc. I also have a copy of the article “Anaphylaxis and the Venomous Keeper” in there. I also put a copy of the snakebite protocol article from Dr. Davidson on treatment of each particular snake I keep. Look them up online and copy each one for the snakes you keep. I stick the whole thing, which will be like nine pages for each type of snake, all in one clear cover for each with a cover that shows a picture of the snake, common name, scientific name, etc. I would also recommend writing right on your arm or something with a sharpie pen what snake bit you and writing a note that is the first page of your binder what snake, what time, where, if you used an epi-pen already, that the snake was secured, etc. Just in case you are unable to answer any questions.

Here’s the link to the online snakebite protocols index from the University of California School of Medicine. I have printed out one of these articles for each type I keep, and keep my grab book real current.

http://drdavidson.ucsd.edu/Portals/0/Snakebite/05.htm

Hope you never need it!

That's good advice, but the most important thing is a set of car key's, unless someone call's 911.

Randal Berry

Unfortunately, unless you are personal, golf playing, best friends with the doctors in charge of your treatment, they will likely set it all off to the side and ignore it completely. Unless they know you intimately and recognise you as an authority on the subject, preferably a fellow physician, they will pay little or no attention to what you have to say or what you brought with you.

In med school, doctors get just one half-day of training in bites and stings. That's all. It's just not a priority in this country. They will treat you as they were taught so many years ago. If you live in Mississippi, Texas or southern California you'll have to contend with fasciotomy as a major issue. At our largest teaching hospital in Mississippi, all snake bites are relegated directly to Plastic Surgery. Antivenin is rarely given. Major inscisions anf skin grafts are routine. Thank you Dr. Glass. What do you do, NOT sign a surgical release? Maybe, but that action might cause legal ramifications if complications arise down the road.

I can't count the number of times a doctor, EMT or police chief appears on the 6:00 news and professes that, "The victim of the snake attack recieved enough venom to kill 15 adult men." or "If we had arrived only five minutes later, it would have been too late......"

They will treat you as they feel fit, not as you feel feel fit. In their eyes, you are ignorant to the ways of medicine and a snake-nut. They most likely not even check your name, let alone remember it over your stay. Not all situations are as I describe but I can tell your for darn sure, the vast majority are.

I think bringing protocals with you is a great idea. Weather it will be used to assist your snakebite management is another story.

Cheers,

Terry Vandeventer

You are SO correct. Except they will get your name and start processing the insurance claim right away. Bad news if you don't have any. I have put my book together to look very organized and semi professional in the even it actually makes an impression and makes the slight chance they use it or look at it that much greater. The antivenom sources and snake bite doctors name and contact info can't hurt, but I'm afraid you are describing very accurately what will really happen.

Kinda makes me hope I don't get bit

I strongly disagree with you. In Ga. the physicians are trained and well versed in snake bite treatment that I have run across. (did I mention I am a Herp Medic for 2 different Fire Depatments, and see many Dr's from many Emergency Departments daily.) Any snake bite call the EMS goes on, they will call me immediately. If Physicians have any unfamiliar cases, they have specialists on call 24/7. In fact the Atlanta Zoo works closely with the area hospitals and Emergency Medical Services.