Bit by a copperhead? This is what you do.

Clint Pustejovsky with Texas Snakes and More tells us how to avoid a snake bite. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

[michaellinkroum]

My biggest fear is more the hospital bill than the venom!

[circusoftheseed]

If you see a snake, back way from it. If it bites you, call 911. I better write that down.

[jpowers]

As a 22 year paramedic I'd say just get in your car and drive to the hospital. You'll get there faster. Especially if you're out in a rural area.

[freaknwv]

Copperhead bites are very rarely fatal. Usually only if the person has an allergic reaction to the venom. They do cause tissue damage and can lead to infection tho.

[jeremytaylor]

Your wrong about holding the extremity in the air. You dont want the bite elevated above your heart.

[panthercreek]

My grandson received a copperhead bite when he was 4 years old one night here in east Alabama . For the next 2 nights running, i, and various kin " removed" abot 2 dozen copperheads from the front yard. It was practically an infestation. The next summer we executed a similar operation with similar results.
No problems since then.

[walkerb]

Master of the obvious. Step #1...back away from it. Step #2...call 911 if you’re bitten. Wow! Great content here.

[theoriginalchefboyoboy]

Very important to watch your path as with the markings they have they really blend in with forest floor leaf litter and are very hard to spot...
And they can strike without coiling, very fast, so don't let that fool you.

[mcafee]

I was bit by a copperhead and didn’t go to the hospital and was fine! I took some Benadryl and Ibuprofen and monitored it. If pain and swelling radiates to your knee seek treatment, otherwise all the hospital will do is clean it (because of bacteria, not venom), give you a tetanus shot, something for pain, some antibiotics, and then bill you $50, 000+ (which you could get the next day from your doctor for $100). Very rarely Is CoFab (anti venom) given for copperhead bites.I’ve had small 30 lb dogs survive their bite with zero permanent effects. It will hurt like nothing you have ever experienced, but you won’t die or have nerve damage unless you are allergic. Copperhead Venom is relatively mild. Now if it’s a Rattlesnake or you are unsure of what snake it was, Rush your ass to the hospital ASAP!!! Rattlesnake venom don’t play, and is the culprit in most snake related deaths and amputations in the U.S.!

[pskemster]

Wearing some descent boots doesn’t hurt either!

[randyames]

If u gotta get bit get bit by a copper head
The venom is relatively mild and the bite is usually treated topically
Unless u have a serious existing health issue when you are bitten you are not in the danger you would be in if you were bitten by a rattle snake

[heidiholiday]

Call 911--I did when I broke my leg in 5 places--took them 1 and 1/2 hours to arrive---just go to the ER.

[columbusjustice]

Man I thought he really going say something no one else knows

[godsdozer]

I wear snake leggings on every job site here in east texas. Im a dirt contractor and see snakes on almost every job site. example, last week while building a lake, I had a pump sitting on a piece of plywood, went to lift the plywood up and a moccasin was underneath it.

[JJones-nfce]

Common sense is to call 911, I thought he was going to offer treatment advice right after a snake bite

[shawnkinser]

Have been bitten twice by these damn things. It's not near as deadly as a moccasin or rattler but still doesn't feel all that great.

[brandonkeene]

Don't underestimate them. I got bit by a baby copper. (Worst case scenario as they can't control venom glands) and it put my butt in the hospital for a week. My arm was the size of Popeye after a double dose of spinach. Black, purple, pink, blue, you Name it. They wanted to put a cut the entire way down my arm because they were afraid it would legitimately split apart. 8 vials of anti venom had to be flown in by helicopter. It spread toward my heart and I looked like I was pumped up by an air pump from my hand all the way up my arm and down my side right beside my heart. Worst pain of my entire life by far, and I've been through some pretty stupid/painful s***. Don't take them lightly, everyone is different.

[randmayfield]

Good instructional. I learned something. Thx

[jasonrandom]

Even if it is decapitated the head is still dangerous and can still bite and inject venom up to an hour after decapitation.

[eviljesus]

Funny this popped up, just had 2 dogs and myself get bit this month. We all healed up at home, no necrosis or infection, looots of benadryl and antibiotics jic. 3rd time I've been hit, they are tHiCk around this place.
By the way, they hurt like hell and seem to come with a trippy fever, at least in my case.