What to do if a rattlesnake bites you

Healthy outdoor activities are filled with fresh air, sunshine and wildlife. If you spot a snake, don’t panic. Most are harmless, and most will avoid people. But occasionally, you may run across a venomous snake — and if a rattlesnake bites you, calm, quick action is critical.

Two species of rattlesnake slither through Pennsylvania. You could run into one while hiking, gardening or just being in their habitat. Timber rattlesnakes are more common, with sightings throughout the state in rocky or forested areas. The endangered Eastern massasauga is only found in a few western counties and likes to live in low-lying swampy areas.

Venomous snakes in Pennsylvania all have eyes with a vertical slit like a cat, rather than rounded pupils. They also have a facial pit, a small hole between their nose and eye on each side.

What to do if you’re bitten by a snake

Get urgent medical assistance if you are bitten by a rattlesnake, even if you don’t have immediate symptoms. 

“Call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room as quickly as possible,” says Ronald S. Strony Jr., MD, a Geisinger emergency medicine doctor. “Don’t try to treat the bite yourself.”

Snakebite symptoms

Both venomous and nonvenomous snakes can bite — and in either case, visit a doctor. If it’s a venomous snake bite, you might have symptoms like:

• Severe pain at the site of the bite
• Redness and swelling
• Bruising and discoloration of the skin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness and dizziness
• Difficulty breathing
• Trouble seeing
• Excessive salivation and sweating
• Numbness or tingling

Immediate rattlesnake bite first aid

When a rattlesnake bites you, whether in the wilderness or your backyard, react swiftly. You should:

• Keep calm: Avoid panicking so you can think clearly. Staying calm also slows down the spread of venom through your bloodstream.
• Call 911 or get to an emergency room as soon as possible. Most people recover from rattlesnake bites if they are treated quickly.
• Lie down or sit down while waiting for emergency responders. Keep the bitten body part below the level of your heart.
• Take off tight clothing or jewelry near the bite because the area could swell.
• Wash the bite with clean, warm soapy water, if you can, and cover it with gauze or bandages.
• Try to describe the snake to your doctor. Take a picture (if it’s safe). Don’t approach or handle the snake. A dead snake can still bite due to muscle spasms. 
• Note the time of the bite. If you can, draw a circle around the swelling. Then a doctor can see if swelling continues.
• Don’t take pain medication. Ibuprofen, aspirin and other medicine can make bleeding worse.

“It’s helpful if you can identify the snake, but not critical.” says Dr. Strony. “Many antivenom medications work on multiple species, so it’s more important to take care of the person. And please don’t bring the snake to the emergency room.”

Avoid these snakebite “treatments”

Forget old advice or the movie you watched. Cutting the puncture or sucking out the venom doesn’t help. Don’t use a tourniquet or put ice on the bite, either. Finally, don’t drink alcohol or caffeine.

“All these so-called treatments will do more harm than good,” says Dr. Strony.

What to expect at the emergency room

Once you arrive at a hospital, medical staff will:

• Give you antivenom (also called antivenin), a specific antidote for snake venom to prevent damage from the toxins.
• Give you medicine for pain and other symptoms like difficulty breathing.
• Check your vital signs including your heart rate and blood pressure.

“After initial medical treatment, you may need wound care, rehabilitation or physical therapy to recover,” says Dr. Strony.

Preventing rattlesnake bites

When you live near rattlesnakes, learn how they act so you can avoid being bitten. Snakes like rock piles, wood piles and fallen logs. They often come out of hiding when it’s cool — like spring, fall or early morning — and warm up by lying on a sunny rock. In warm weather, they may tuck themselves into wood piles or rocky crevices to escape the heat.

Rattlesnakes blend in easily with their camouflage but will usually warn you to keep away with their buzzy rattling tail.

If you see or hear a snake, keep a respectful distance and leave it alone. They eat pesky rats and mice — and just want to be left in peace.

Next steps: 

Find a Geisinger emergency room
How to remove a tick
What to do if stung by a bee