Rain blamed for increase in local snake bites

Courtesy KU Hospital.

Courtesy University of Kansas Hospital.

Excessive rain has snakes on the move, and there are reports of 17 people bitten so far this year in the metropolitan area, the University of Kansas Hospital reports.

The media report says that Poison Control reported responding to 73 snake bites in the area last year.

Despite the recent case of a Missouri man dying from an untreated snake bite, death from snakes in the United States is rare, doctors say.

The hospital release includes a video (below) of Dr. Stephen Thornton, who offers advice on snakebites.

What to do and what not:

If a snake bites, go to a hospital like KU Hospital, which has a large supply of anti-venom medication.

Copperheads are the most common poisonous snakes in the metro area but don’t worry about identifying the snake.

Doctors will determine if the bite is poisonous and the anti-venom works for all types of area poisonous snakes.

Forget old cowboy movies: Do not cut open the bite and try to suck out the poison. Do not put on a tourniquet, but you might want to put an arm in a sling.

The best thing to do is to stay calm and get to the hospital.

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