we have recently had a rattlesnake warning for this area since a lady was bitten in her own yard the other day and almost died. kinda freaks me out to go out into the fields and off the beaten path to go out MDing. espicially since my little one comes along everytime i go out. i guess i will stick to the parks and schools for a while. any tips on rattlesnake saftey while out MDing would be appreciated. I know heat draws out venom. I am thinking of maybe bringing some of those disposable heating pads you buy from a drug store along with me just to be on the safe side. do you think it would work in case of a bite? you know until help arrives?
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Rattlesnakes
- Thread starter dobbie
- Start date
Prevention is definitly the best medicine when it comes to snake bites. I agree with southon37, I bought hard vinyl chaps from the farm & home store to help me push through some blackberry briars, never even thought about snake bites here in Illinois. Took a shot in the shin from a timber rattler I stepped on. Man was I shocked! Those chaps saved me some serious pain. I never go into the woods without them and stopped wearing sneakers too, only leather work boots. Also if I know that I can't get a cell phone signal in the timber I leave a note telling my wife where I'm going and what time to expect me back. Never know when you'll step in hole and break a leg. Be safe and keep swingin'!
HH, twalton
HH, twalton
dougmoore34
New member
n/t
Rivermarine1
New member
I used to work along with the Arizona and California Wildlife Departments on the bombing ranges in Arizona and California. Most snakes are just as happy to get away from you as you are from. They normally don't bite unless cornered. Because of the large Western Diamondbacks, we wore leather boots and leather chaps. Part our work was catching, weighing, measuring and releasing. We caught hundreds of different varieties, Western Diamondbacks, Sidewinders, Blacktails, Coral Snakes and Gila Monsters. Did it for almost six years and no one got bite.
Because you are detecting, you are most likely looking down, this is one of the best positions to be in. You will probably see the snake before you get too close. If you see one, back away. If the snake saw you first, he is probably moving away from you as fast as you are from him. Don't mess with them. Let them go. It will probably go somewhere to hide. Also, snakes don't move around as much during the day as the night. They are usually nocturnal. The only snake I ever ran into that was aggressive was the Cottonmouth Water Moccasin. They can be aggressive, but usually they are near water or marshy areas. Don't reach into a hole or opening you can't clearly see into. You never know what is inside.
I did get bitten as a kid about 8, but that was my fault, I sort of cornered a small one against a big tree root and didn't know it was there. Got too close, was barefooted and got bite. Had to take anti venom, but was only a little sick for a couple days.
Safety from a lot of things is why I recommend hunting in pairs or groups. You can look after each if something happens. Cell phones are useful when in an area where you get receptions. It doesn't work in all places. When I go out alone, I always leave a note with a map or directions so my wife can find me (sometimes unfortunately) if I stay out too long. Usually, I get a cellphone call before she goes out in the woods looking for me.
Snake bite kits are OK, but I have never had to use one. If you or someone gets bitten, stay calm (as possible), put a moderate tourniquet above the wound closer to the heart if on your arm or leg, to slow down the flow but don't completely shut off the blood flow. Release it about every fifteen seconds a little to keep good blood in the area. The tourniquet is to only slow down the progress until you can get to help. Shutting down the blood flow completely can cause harm that may be more serious than the snake bite, such as blood clots or loss of a limb. Because of the availability of anti venom and medical help, rarely does someone die.
Because you are detecting, you are most likely looking down, this is one of the best positions to be in. You will probably see the snake before you get too close. If you see one, back away. If the snake saw you first, he is probably moving away from you as fast as you are from him. Don't mess with them. Let them go. It will probably go somewhere to hide. Also, snakes don't move around as much during the day as the night. They are usually nocturnal. The only snake I ever ran into that was aggressive was the Cottonmouth Water Moccasin. They can be aggressive, but usually they are near water or marshy areas. Don't reach into a hole or opening you can't clearly see into. You never know what is inside.
I did get bitten as a kid about 8, but that was my fault, I sort of cornered a small one against a big tree root and didn't know it was there. Got too close, was barefooted and got bite. Had to take anti venom, but was only a little sick for a couple days.
Safety from a lot of things is why I recommend hunting in pairs or groups. You can look after each if something happens. Cell phones are useful when in an area where you get receptions. It doesn't work in all places. When I go out alone, I always leave a note with a map or directions so my wife can find me (sometimes unfortunately) if I stay out too long. Usually, I get a cellphone call before she goes out in the woods looking for me.
Snake bite kits are OK, but I have never had to use one. If you or someone gets bitten, stay calm (as possible), put a moderate tourniquet above the wound closer to the heart if on your arm or leg, to slow down the flow but don't completely shut off the blood flow. Release it about every fifteen seconds a little to keep good blood in the area. The tourniquet is to only slow down the progress until you can get to help. Shutting down the blood flow completely can cause harm that may be more serious than the snake bite, such as blood clots or loss of a limb. Because of the availability of anti venom and medical help, rarely does someone die.
Rivermarine1
New member
One more thing. If you are in detecting club, I would suggest getting in touch with the Red Cross and they will teach emergency first aid. I never hurts to have the information. You never know when you might have to use it. If not in a club contact them yourself, they have classes scheduled you just have to go. 
BH-LandStar
New member
Up here in NY, we do not have the snake problems so bad...we DO have timber rats, and contrary to popular belief, there are cotton mouths up here too in areas...how these survive our winters in far beyond my reckoning...We have a bigger threat from deer ticks, rabid raccoons and opossums, wilds dogs, mosquitos, and spiders (brown recluse, and black widow)...
HH,
BH-LandStar
HH,
BH-LandStar
The correct procedure for snake bite is as follows. Elastic bandage over the bite site, work down to lowest part of limb, then back up past the bite as far as possible. Putting the limb in a splint to keep it immobile is also a good idea. This will slow blood flow for the entire limb, plus the hospital can gather data re: snake venom type, from the bite site, administer antivenom. We've got the most venomous and deadliest snakes in the world here in OZ! HH regards Nugget.
albyalbatross1
New member
As we say here in Outback OZ "Only a fool dies from snake bite!!" How I wish for a rabbid squirrel or Skunk as compared to cranky brown snake not happy with my intrusion.
silversmith
New member
Except for the "walks" from point to point, metal detector folks are a lot safer than most in the field because of that big loop swinging on the ground in front of us. I've also seen yellow plastic "stove pipes" available for this very purpose. You could probably find them through Google.com. I took an Internet test one time because of a fat speeding ticket I got. One of the questions was "How can you best avoid a car jacking" The correct answer was "Be aware of your surroundings" Highly applicable here.