This weekend was to be the first camping trip of the year. Staying local, visiting a state park that we had never visited takes the strain of a few hours transit out. On a clear day you can see most of our region, 60-70 miles in all directions. Seemed like a fun spot and provisions were secured.
Universe Warning #1: No alcohol allowed in the park.
Now I know how CHL folks feel when they can't take their weapon with them certain places.
Universe Warning #2: Extreme Fire Danger in effect. Only charcoal and gas stoves allowed, no open burning.
How am I supposed to do SMORES over a charcoal built in? We'll make do.
And that was before we even packed the car. Looking back, the Universe, God, Karma, something was trying to send me the signal NOT to go camping this weekend. I wasn't listening.
I'm getting to the You Make the Call...trust me.
Arriving at the park we picked out a shady site with a large enough spot for our tent and the girls to run around and exhaust themselves.
As I open the back of the van to get the gear I hear from commotion from the next site over, "Oh God he got bit by a rattlesnake!"
A 58 year old male walks in from the open space nearby holding his left hand. He sits at a nearby bench, 1st finger with a single puncture wound, the bleeding has stopped but the site shows initial edema. He is smacking his lips while speaking in full sentences and is in good spirits considering.
Being the kind camper you are you approach and offer assistance. A woman is tying a twine tourniquet on the finger which you quickly remove and they raise his hand which you quickly restore to it's natural position and ask if anyone has called the Ranger Station.
Another woman has appeared (It was a Girl Scout outing, moms and girls) with a snake bite kit.
Your situation:
What might pass for a BLS camping kit plus a dose of epi 1:1000 back in your own camp.
New in package Coleman brand Snake Venom Removal Kit.
Campsite is 15 linear miles up a mountain, the drive took you 35 minutes avoiding bikers.
The Ranger Station is maybe 2 miles back down and just a few minutes ago had 2 Ranger vehicles parked there.
The man has no pertinent medical history, is alert and oriented and in the few moments it takes to assess the situation the edema has not changed. His pulse rate is elevated, 130, but he is anxious as well.
What do you do?
You Make the Call
Universe Warning #1: No alcohol allowed in the park.
Now I know how CHL folks feel when they can't take their weapon with them certain places.
Universe Warning #2: Extreme Fire Danger in effect. Only charcoal and gas stoves allowed, no open burning.
How am I supposed to do SMORES over a charcoal built in? We'll make do.
And that was before we even packed the car. Looking back, the Universe, God, Karma, something was trying to send me the signal NOT to go camping this weekend. I wasn't listening.
I'm getting to the You Make the Call...trust me.
Arriving at the park we picked out a shady site with a large enough spot for our tent and the girls to run around and exhaust themselves.
As I open the back of the van to get the gear I hear from commotion from the next site over, "Oh God he got bit by a rattlesnake!"
A 58 year old male walks in from the open space nearby holding his left hand. He sits at a nearby bench, 1st finger with a single puncture wound, the bleeding has stopped but the site shows initial edema. He is smacking his lips while speaking in full sentences and is in good spirits considering.
Being the kind camper you are you approach and offer assistance. A woman is tying a twine tourniquet on the finger which you quickly remove and they raise his hand which you quickly restore to it's natural position and ask if anyone has called the Ranger Station.
Another woman has appeared (It was a Girl Scout outing, moms and girls) with a snake bite kit.
Your situation:
What might pass for a BLS camping kit plus a dose of epi 1:1000 back in your own camp.
New in package Coleman brand Snake Venom Removal Kit.
Campsite is 15 linear miles up a mountain, the drive took you 35 minutes avoiding bikers.
The Ranger Station is maybe 2 miles back down and just a few minutes ago had 2 Ranger vehicles parked there.
The man has no pertinent medical history, is alert and oriented and in the few moments it takes to assess the situation the edema has not changed. His pulse rate is elevated, 130, but he is anxious as well.
What do you do?
You Make the Call
This will be a 2 part YMTC and will expand on what I did and what happened then.
Comments
Assuming (and this is the doozy) that he has actually been bitten by a rattlesnake, scene safety becomes pretty important. Clear the area so nobody else gets bit. I'd begin evacuation towards definitive care while my patient is still in good condition, as evacuation after he crashes will be much harder. Attempt to keep the patient calm, as his anxious state with elevated heart rate will spread the venom through his body more quickly, and keep the bitten extremity below the level of the heart. Call the ranger station, and have them get an ambulance started towards you; plan to meet it somewhere on your way to the hospital. You have about 45 minutes before the patient really starts having trouble, so you might as well start moving towards additional help to shorten the trip.
I have some doubts about whether he was actually bitten; did anyone actually get eyes on the snake? Rattlesnakes leave two punctures when they bite, and only one puncture makes me wonder. A quick google search shows that you're in the area of the Western Rattlesnake, so if in doubt, though, don't hesitate to evacuate!
Evacuation was my first thought as well. More soon.
I've also heard that most rattlesnake bites are suffered on the hands and face, because folks are trying to do just what this guy did. Any ETOH on board this guy? ;)
HM - charcoal grill is ideal for s'mores. Either use the even temperature coals for a perfectly roasted marshmallow or place a cracker with chocolate and marshmallow on the grill grate. Cover for about a minute and then enjoy.
With the story and info I have on hand, I'd be moving towards transport and meet the ambulance in route. Better safe then sorry, especially with the history and its pretty clear cut that it was a snake bite. The baby snake bite I believe does make it worse.
Best case scenario snake isn't poisonous, no severe reaction occurs, guy goes to hospital and gets evaluated and discharged with a clean wound and updated tetanus shot.
Worst case....life and/or limb threatening reaction, and or other transmittable diseases....hence ambulance ride.
Ohh and my weapon is much more important to me then having a cold beer. One is to save my life, the other tastes good. But I get what you were saying.