A pregnant woman from California sucked the venom from her son's ankle after the child was bitten by a snake.
Four-year-old Vinny and his nine-month-pregnant mom, Jaclyn Caramazza, were on their way back from a hike along the Folsom Bike Trail outside of Sacramento. Suddenly, the child stepped on something brown that coiled up — a baby rattlesnake.
Caramazza found puncture wounds and noticed that her son's ankle was turning purple and starting to balloon. Remembering episodes of Bonanza, in which she had seen characters responding to snake bites by sucking out the venom, Caramazza decided to do the same.
Health officials, however, strongly advise against following her example. Chris Stoots, from California Fish and Wildlife, said sucking out snake venom is a misconception and isn't advisable.
"Misconception is lacerate between the two points and suck the venom out," Stoots said. "Absolutely don't do that. Use your basic wound type stuff, soap and water, wash the area, keep it clean and call 911 immediately."
Caramazza was lucky, because the poison of the venom did not hurt her or her unborn child. Her son Vinny is recovering and will be OK, too.
In case of getting bitten by a snake, experts advise taking note of the snake's appearance so it can be readily described to emergency staff. Being able to identify the snake behind the bite can help to swiftly determine the best treatment. Calling 911 should be done immediately, especially if the snakebite appears venomous.
While waiting for medical assistance, it is recommended to have the injured person lie down with the snakebite below the heart. It is also important to keep the person still, so as to prevent the venom from spreading, and to cover the wound with a loose and sterile bandage.
Certain things should also be avoided, such as cutting the bite wound, applying ice, water or a tourniquet, as well as giving the bitten person caffeinated drinks or alcohol.
It also helps to observe practices that could prevent snakebites, such as wearing closed-toe shoes instead of sandals. And though it goes without saying, never provoke a snake.
Photo: David~O | Flickr
