Found this article which is written for trail runners. However, the tips on what to do when you get bitten (and how to avoid getting bitten) also apply to us MTB'ers.

http://getsomeadventures.com/what-to-do ... ote-trail/

My personal take-aways:
- Snake bite kits are all bad so don't use them (sorry Shannon!)
- No first aid is better then bad first aid
- Bring a sharpie and a phone
- Stay calm
- Walk out to get help

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I do not think it means what you think it means.

Great info and thanks for posting

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You never know what tomorrow will bring so go ride your EBike today or walk your pooch
Fear the Yeti
"Go ride your bike today, don't let the old man in.."

Mike

"Each year, about 8,000 venomous snake bites occur in the US and about 5 of those people die.". Those aren't bad odds. I expect the odds are even better for those armed with this info.

In the meantime, at least I can look forward to the extra space after I remove the kit from my pack.

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"it can go full porno alley"

- Kimba - One love, many bikes - 2020

I read one time that 75% of snake bite victims are males age 14 to 30ish who were bitten between the fingers and elbow. Seems if you don't try to mess with them the odds of not getting bit are even better.

Great post. I've often wondered if I would be able to make it back to the car if I got bit, and if not, what would happen to my bike if an airlift was necessary.

It's nice that those types of stories among biking are rare.

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Jeff

A good friend's father in his late eighties was bitten two weeks ago in Vista, on the hand by a 2' rattler while weeding the yard. He's okay now, but it was really bad for a couple days. Three days in Tri-City ICU. He was bitten at 3:30, got antivenin at 6:00pm, not sure why the delay.

But maybe because stabilization and tests were needed first. I had always heard it was important to identify the species, as the antivenin was very specific, but that is apparently not true, at least among rattler species.

http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/bites-and-stings/snakebites

I like the Sharpie idea. They don't weigh much, and the writing on yourself idea could be very helpful in other injury situations when you're in danger of losing consciousness before help arrives. Or for writing on drunk friends.

I've often thought it must be real difficult to remain calm.

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

An airlift usually also involves rescue personnel on the ground, who are really nice people, and will help with things like your bike. Don't ask me how I know.

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

Good to know. Hope I never have to find out.

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Jeff

It might be helpful to take a picture of the snake if you can (and have a smartphone with a camera like most of us do today )

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You never know what tomorrow will bring so go ride your EBike today or walk your pooch
Fear the Yeti
"Go ride your bike today, don't let the old man in.."

Mike

maybe, but i can throw my flip-phone at the damn snake. not something you'd do with a smarty.


thanks for the great posts. often ride alone, and yes there is probably a reason for that, but it might bring added risks.

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Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy. ~Milan Kundera

^^^ Yes, please get a picture for DT if you can (!), but as long as you're sure it was a rattlesnake, don't worry about identifying which species for the doctor. They just use one antivenin for all pit vipers. We don't have coral snakes, water moccasins, or copperheads, so the only question around here is, was the snake that bit you a rattlesnake or not? Learn to recognize the distinctive triangular head, because you might not see or hear the rattles.

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

good info dan.

but if we don't have coral snakes, water moccasins, or copperheads, what other venomous snakes would there be regionally but pit vipers? and if others, what is their population relative to pit vipers, i.e., what are the chances it wasn't a pit viper when you go for the antivenin?

serious question as i don't intend to go after him to get a better look at his head. and hopefully, it may no longer be recognizable after i retaliate with my ninja flip-phone skills.

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Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy. ~Milan Kundera

No, only rattlesnakes around here. But you want to be sure it was a rattlesnake that bit you. Other snakes can deliver a painful but non-venomous bite when provoked. Like gopher snakes. Don't ask me how I know. If you're sure it was a rattlesnake, my guess is the doctors will be getting the antivenin ready right away while they closely monitor you. If you're not sure, maybe they'll just watch you while they work on someone else. Ever been in an ER on a weekend?

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

gopher snakes are supposedly pretty bitey.

You're absolutely right, Dan . . . for example this snake below has a skinny white head and not the distinctive triangular head of a rattlesnake, so you probably want a picture of it just be safe. One should probably carry a banana for the picture too, just to create some scale.

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway