PHOENIX — After 25 years of hiking in Phoenix, a retired ICU nurse from Scottsdale finally got unlucky. She was bitten by a rattlesnake over the weekend.
It was the first bite of the year, and it happened earlier than normal, Banner Health said in a press release. The hospital doesn't typically see rattlesnake bites until March, but warm temperatures already have the snakes up and about.
According to the hospital, 78-year-old Martha Troy had been on a hike with her daughter and granddaughter this past weekend. She was supposed to celebrate her upcoming birthday at a spa, but near the end of her hike she was bitten on the ankle.
Troy said that the rattle came almost at the same time as the bite. Fortunately, she was able to get treatment and has been recovering smoothly. As a former nurse herself, Troy knew what to do.
“Do not walk off-trail, look ahead on the ground, and back off if you hear a rattle,” Troy said. “Know what treatment you should and should not do for a rattlesnake bite, and get help immediately if you experience one.”
On average, Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix treats around 50 to 60 bites a year. Fatalities from rattlesnake bites are rare — roughly 1 in 600, according to the US Forest Service — but getting quick treatment makes a massive difference.
"If you are bitten by a rattlesnake, don’t panic — the most important thing is to get to a health care facility for treatment as soon as possible,” said Dr. Anne-Michelle Ruha, chief of the department of medical toxicology at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix.
Applying a tourniquet or trying to suck out the venom is not encouraged. Instead, elevate the wound, and seek professional medical treatment.
Rattlesnake bite victims should call 911 as soon as possible for medical treatment, and they may also call the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-222-1222 for assistance in answering any questions related to venomous bites or stings, the hospital said.
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