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KXAN (Austin, Texas) 19 March 05 Snake Bite Lands Lockhart Man In Hospital
A Lockhart man is recovering Friday night after a close encounter with a poisonous snake. Now KXAN has some tips on how you can avoid a similar experience.
Emergency workers say the 51-year-old Lockhart man was just cleaning up his yard when a copperhead bit his hand. After treatment at a local clinic, medical workers decided he needed emergency care.
STAR Flight flew him to an Austin hospital. Now, while the hospital believes he'll be OK, paramedics say a bite like this could be deadly, depending on the age and health of the victim.
And it's definitely the season where you'll be seeing more of these venomous snakes. Emergency workers say the best advice is to never try to push one away with a stick or aggravate it. They also say that you should stay away, even if you don't think the snake is poisonous.
"There used to be a lot of [people recommending that you] cut the bite out, suck the poison out," said flight paramedic Stephen Maier. "The best advice is just to leave it be. Don't mess with it. If it's going to be an extended period of time, keep it immobile at the level of the heart, and go to the hospital and seek medical attention."
This particular case happened in a more rural area, but experts say there are snakes like this everywhere, especially around Town Lake.
Snake Bite Lands Lockhart Man In Hospital

Wes, I didn't know you were from Ottawa, nice to see another canuck on kingsnake

This is one of those ‘here-we-go-again’ notes; some of you may have heard a version of this before and I ask your indulgence.
I’ve been asked to consider not posting so many of the bite/bad-keeping incident press items. The author of the e-mail agrees that the forum/community has to know what is going on out there, but is concerned that the ‘concentration of press items’ leads to a public perception that the “hot hobby is out of control” (His/her words, not mine). The fear is that I am doing the anti-hot interest groups a ‘favour’ by posting everything in one convenient spot. The suggestion was that I post ‘sporadically’, and have a side list of people to whom I would e-mail everything else directly.
I am trying to support the forum by trying to ensure that those most capable/knowledgeable about hots will have access to hot-related press as soon as I can get it and post it. As a ‘newt guy’, I have no claim to representation on this forum and I try not to ‘editorialise’ on my postings.
Yes, I do perhaps post too much, but those of you that get Herp News or the archive disk may be able to vouch that I don’t print ‘everything’ that I get on hots … I do try to exercise some modest discretion. But as a ‘cold-keeper’, I’m not in a knowledgable position as to determine what is important/interesting to hot keepers. And yes, if you want information to use against hot-keepers, I suppose that I’ve concentrated a lot of it here for the discerning anti-hot keeper … but at least they won’t be accessing items that you group are not already au fey with.
If I’m posting way-too-much bad hot press, I’d appreciate an off-line slap-on-the-head (gently though) and a recommendation how I could ameliorate this problem. If this posting is not of concern to the forum (just Wes the 27-yr vet Army guy being too sensitive) and I should continue the ‘status quo’, please ignore this post. And a kind thank you to those of you who have posted a variety of kudos and kind words over the past … ohmygod, I guess it’s been years!
I post because I’m hot friendly (not in any way experienced), I’m doing the herp-press hunt for my own enjoyment anyway, and I really enjoy and learn from your replies to the press item and the not inconsiderable number of debates amongst yourselves as a hot community.
I in no way want to contribute to any bad public perception about your unique hobby, and I apologise here if it appears that I’m contributing to “enemy intelligence gathering”. My sole purpose was to make sure that your group had the press poop first, and would be better armed to repel boarders. I’ve had similar but by far less frequent notes from the people in the python and croc forums, but it seems that your discipline attracts a lot of fire … both incoming and outgoing.
Am I posting too much ‘bad press’ (and I’m the first to admit, it’s hard as heck finding good news press about your hobby)? If I’m posting too much bad news, please let me know with a side note. Thank you for your time and kind attention.
Phew ... back to regular programming I hope.
Respectfully;
Wes

Your awesome Wes, and I must admit I take advantage of your frequent posts and don't say thank you nearly enough. Without your press-sharing hobby I'd be much less informed about what happens around the world.

Wes...

By all means...keep the articles coming. If someone wants to get their panties in a twist over some idiot free handling his "pet" cobra and getting bit, or some idiot keeping a Gaboon viper in a cardboard box and it getting out, that isn't your problem.

Let's face it...that majority of "non-reptile" people don't even know this site exists, and they don't need an article to tell them how to feel about venomous snakes or those that keep them. Posting articles as you do keeps us informed from a global perspective, and it's helpful. Keep it up!!!!!

-AzAtrox

I agree. While I can see the plaintiff's point, I think you are doing us much more of a service by keeping us informed than a disservice by any help it might give our tormentors. And in case I haven't said it lately either, thanks for all your effort!

I hope your head's okay, Wes. The work you do here is greatly appreciated. Keep it up.

~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

Wes, you can hardly be blamed for keeping us informed of what is going on in the media conscerning reptile news. The news you share is available to anyone willing to do the searching. We just have the advantage of you searching for us and keeping us informed. Thank you so much for your posts on all of the forums I check on a daily basis. You rock!!!