The hiker was recently bitten by a rattlesnake in Tennessee and reportedly died after experiencing a rare allergic reaction to the snake’s venom.
Paramedics were dispatched to the trailhead in Savage Gulf State Park on August 8th. The healthcare worker gave him CPR on the trail and transported him to the hospital. The man’s identity is not disclosed.
Witnesses said the hiker picked up a rattlesnake and bitten his hand, Grandi County Emergency Management Director Matthew Griffith told Live Science. Snakes are thought to be wood rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus), a species with powerful venom, but rarely bites humans unless provoked or stepped on.
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“It is believed that the hiker had an allergic reaction, but no full details of the actual cause of death have been made public,” Griffith said in an email.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 7,000 to 8,000 people in the United States are rarely fatal, and only about five of the deadly snakes are deadly. Most deaths occur due to an immediate anaphylactic reaction or because the bitten does not seek medical attention.
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According to the Tennessee Department of Wildlife Resources, the wood rattlesnake is Tennessee’s largest and most dangerous venomous snake, with a heavy body that can grow to about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long. Other venomous snakes in the state are the pygmy rattle (Sistrus Miliarius), Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix), and cotton mice (Agkistrodon piscivorus).
These snakes use venom to hunt their prey and protect them. Wood rattlesnakes usually eat small mammals such as squirrels and mice, but sometimes hunt birds and reptiles. This species is an ambush predator, either remaining at the base of a tree or by a curled log, waiting for its prey to pass. According to the CDC, rattlesnakes attack quickly from any position and are not always rattle before biting.
According to the Florida Museum, wood rattlesnakes are not aggressive towards humans and should avoid contact with people and pets if possible. If they bite, there is also a slight chance that they will not inject their poison. According to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, this type of strike is known as a dry bite, making up about 20% of defensive rattlesnakes.
Snake venom is a complex mixture of proteins that change dramatically in different species and their populations. Rattlesnakes are vipers that usually carry hemostatic toxic venom that attack the circulatory system. According to the Natural History Museum in London, hematotoxic venom causes bleeding and destroys the blood’s ability to clot. However, rattlesnakes have neurotoxic toxicities and can also attack the nervous system. Wood rattlesnakes are known to have both properties and can be equipped with a very powerful neurotoxic venom that lacks the bleeding effect typical of rattlesnakes. Rattlesnake Venom is also cytotoxic and destroys tissue.
William Sutton, a professor at Tennessee State University who studies snakes, told the New York Times that snake venom allergic reactions are similar to bees’ stinging allergic reactions.
Rattlesnake bites are usually not fatal in treatment, but venom can have long-term consequences. Approximately 10% to 44% of people who have been bitten have experienced continued injuries, including losing some or all of their fingers.
Griffith warned those engaged in outdoor activities to be aware of venomous snakes and not to deal with them.
“As always, we highly recommend that you have some emergency material ready while enjoying outdoor recreational activities and keep in mind the dangers of wildlife and some wildlife posing,” Griffith said. “If you encounter a snake, simply stay calm and don’t try to deal with it. If you get bitten, ask for immediate medical consultation.”
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