Venomous Snakes at Work

Overview

Venomous snakes found in the United States include rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths (also called water moccasins), and coral snakes.

Each year, and estimated 7,000–8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States. About 5 people die from these bites. Prompt medical treatment can reduce the risk of death and serious injury.

Snakebites can also cause lasting injuries. Among people bitten by rattlesnakes, an estimated 10%–44% have lasting effects, such as loss of part or all of a finger or impaired use of the affected area.

Types

Rattlesnakes

• The largest venomous snakes in the United States. Many species live in the United States.
• Can quickly and accurately strike one-third or more of their body length from any position (coiled or stretched out).
• May use their rattles as a warning if they are feeling threatened.
• Do not always rattle before biting.
• Can be found sunning near logs, boulders, or open areas.
• Found across the United States in mountains, prairies, deserts, and beaches.
• Antivenom is recommended for the treatment of signs of progressive envenomation (e.g., worsening of local tissue injury, systemic symptoms).

Copperheads

• Vary in color from reddish to golden tan.
• Colored bands on their bodies are typically hourglass-shaped.
• Have a deep facial pit between each eye and their nostril.
• Adults are about 1.5 – 3 feet long.
• Not usually aggressive, but will freeze if frightened, and strike if they feel threatened.
• Found in Eastern states and as far west as Texas in forests, rocky areas, swamps, and near water.
• If bitten, receiving antivenom as soon as possible helps limbs to recover faster and it lessens the chance that a limb will be disabled after copperhead snake envenomation.

Cottonmouths/Water Moccasins

• Adults are typically over 4 feet long.
• Adults are dark tan, brown, or nearly black, with vague black or dark brown cross-bands.
• Juveniles have a bold cross-banded pattern of brown or orange with a yellow tail.
• Found in the Southeastern United States in or around water.

Coral Snakes

• Sometimes confused with nonvenomous king snakes, which have similar colored bands.
• May hide in leaf piles or burrow into the ground.
• Found in the Southern United States in wooded, sandy, or marshy areas.

Symptoms

Signs or symptoms of a snake bite can vary depending on the type of snake.

Around the wound, you may experience:

• Puncture marks
• Bleeding, redness, swelling, bruising, or blistering
• Severe pain and tenderness

After a snake bite, you may experience:

• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Trouble seeing or breathing
  • In extreme cases, breathing may stop
• Rapid heart rate, weak pulse, low blood pressure
• Metallic, mint, or rubber taste in the mouth
• Increased salivation and sweating
• Numbness or tingling around face and/or limbs
• Muscle twitching

Prevention

What employers can do

Employers can protect their workers from venomous snake bites by training them about:

• Their risk of being bitten by venomous snakes.
• How to identify venomous snakes.
• How to prevent snake bites.
• What they should do if they see a snake or if a snake bites them.

What workers can do

• Do not touch or handle any snake.
• Stay away from tall grass and piles of leaves when possible.
• Avoid climbing on rocks or piles of wood where a snake may be hiding.
• Be aware that snakes tend to be most active at dawn and dusk and in warm weather.
• Wear boots and long pants when working outdoors.
• Wear leather gloves when handling brush and debris.

First Aid

If a snake bites you

• Seek emergency medical attention as soon as possible to start antivenom (if needed) and stop irreversible damage.
  • Do not drive yourself to the hospital because the snakebite can make you dizzy or pass out.
• Take a photograph from a safe distance to identify the snake if possible, which may aid in faster treatment.
• Keep calm.
• Inform your supervisor.
• Apply first aid while waiting for someone to take you to the hospital.
  • Lay or sit down with the bite in a neutral position of comfort.
  • Remove rings and watches before swelling starts.
  • Wash the bite with soap and water.
  • Cover the bite with a clean, dry dressing.
  • Mark the leading edge of tenderness/swelling on the skin and write the time alongside it.

What not to do

• Do not pick up the snake or try to trap it.
  • NEVER handle a venomous snake, not even a dead one or its decapitated head.
• Do not wait for symptoms to appear; get medical help right away.
• Do not apply a tourniquet, electric shock, or folk therapies.
• Do not slash the wound with a knife or cut it in any way.
• Do not try to suck out the venom.
• Do not apply ice or immerse the wound in water.
• Do not drink alcohol as a painkiller or take pain relievers (such as, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen).