What to do when a snake bites you on a remote trail?

LITTLETON - A family in Highlands Ranch has a warning for parents after a toddler was bitten by a rattlesnake at Roxborough State Park recently.

Maggie was running around near the visitor center when Browning says he heard her scream, followed by a rattle. "She wasn't off wandering on her own and we were all very close," Browning said.

After hearing his daughter yell, Browning says he saw the rattlesnake, which had been coiled and sleeping by the trail.

Officials with Colorado Parks and Wildlife say Coloradans should be extra vigilant when it comes to rattlesnakes this season. This is partially due to the fact that rattlesnakes have recently come out of hibernation, but experts say they've noticed an increased presence of the venemous snakes in Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Manager Justin Olson.

In the past few years of hiking and running trails, I’ve encountered about 10 snakes, including a few poisonous rattlesnakes. I run a lot of trails solo in the middle of nowhere, so I wanted to figure out exactly what to do if a snake bites me on a remote trail?

Photo by Jimmy Dean Freeman

Below is a summary of things I’ve learned about first aid for snake bites after talking to the Snake Bite Poison Line (1-800-222-1222 available 24/7), after doing my own online research and after posting my snake questions on Reddit Running. The best info came from Jordan Benjamin, a herpetologist specialized in venomous snakes. I’m just sharing this info because it might help you one day:

• No first aid is much better than performing bad first aid.
• All Snake Bite Kits are dangerous and should not be used.
• Don't panic. Stay calm.
• Find a safe place to sit down asap.
• Remove any rings, watches, tight clothing and anything else from the bitten limb, because the swelling will make it a lot bigger soon.
• Take 5 minutes to calm down and plan your evacuation. The only effective treatment for a snake envenomation is the right anti-venom to neutralize it.
• Do not wait for symptoms to appear if bitten.
• A sharpie can be a great help for emergency personnel to assess the severity of your snakebite. Circle the location of your snake bite and write down the time next to it.
• Update this info every 15 or 30 minutes as the swelling moves up the limb and your symptoms develop.
• Make contact via cell phone. If this is not possible, walk slowly to get help. Drink some water and take some calories if you have any.

Preventing a snake bite is obviously better than dealing with a snake bite. Here are a few ways to reduce the risks of snake bites while trail running: see article for more

Things to bring on your trail runs that help with a snake bite:
• Phone
• Sharpie

Getting bitten by a snake can be deadly, especially if you’re on your own on a remote trail. The following story is a good explanation of how a snake bite would feel: I Should Be Dead. Each year, about 8,000 venomous snake bites occur in the US and about 5 of those people die. You’ve got a good chance of survival if you seek medical attention immediately.

To summarize: try to stay calm, sit down, remove anything tight, document your situation, contact help.