Venomous Snakes at Work

Overview

Venomous snakes found in the United States include:

• Rattlesnakes
• Copperheads
• Cottonmouths/water moccasins
• Coral snakes

Each year, 7,000–8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States. About 5 of those people die. More people would die if they did not seek medical care.

Workers are more likely to suffer long-term injuries than to die from snake bites. For those bitten by rattlesnakes, 10–44 percent will have lasting injuries. For example, they may lose all or part of a finger or lose the ability to use it.

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.

Do not do any of the following:

• 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).

Resources

University of Florida/Florida Museum of Natural History – Guide to Florida's Venomous Snakes

University of Florida IFAS Extension — Snakes