A business owner in Tyler, Texas, was moved to the intensive care unit after a copperhead snake bite that he described as feeling like “10 red wasp [stings] at once.” I read the account from The Cool Down.
The man was working in his driveway when the snake bit the side of his foot. He told the outlet that the pain was immediate and intense, and that his foot began to swell rapidly. Emergency responders took him to a hospital, where he was placed in the ICU for monitoring and treatment of the venomous bite.
Copperheads are one of the most common venomous snakes in Texas, and their bites are rarely fatal but can cause severe pain, swelling, and tissue damage. The Tyler area, in Smith County, is within the range of the Southern copperhead, a pit viper that often blends into leaf litter and can be stepped on accidentally. Bites typically occur when people are in yards, gardens, or driveways and unknowingly approach the snake.
What this means for a Texas homeowner
If you live in an area where copperheads are active, the risk of a bite increases during warm months when snakes are more mobile. The first step is to reduce the habitat that attracts snakes and their prey. You can follow the 10 easy steps to snake-proof your yard, which include clearing brush piles, sealing gaps under doors and sheds, and removing debris where rodents and snakes can hide.
If you are bitten, do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom, and do not apply a tourniquet. The Texas Department of State Health Services advises staying calm and getting to a hospital as quickly as possible. Antivenom is effective, but the severity of the reaction can vary, as this case shows.
The notice is published by The Cool Down at www.thecooldown.com.
