8th Continent Soymilk Taste of Life Tour- Close Encounter with a Rattlesnake

So some of you know this story already- but I thought I would share it with everyone out there in cyberspace and give some tips about what I did wrong and what I did right in this situation.

I was in Utah and heard about an amazing road that you could drive three hours on in the desert until it turned into dirt with amazing views and natural garnets on the hillsides. Driving and driving, it seemed like it took FOREVER… but the road finally turned into dirt. I parked along side of the road- normally you would want to throw your hazard lights on, but I hadn’t seen another vehicle for two hours.

I exited my car and started walking left towards “Garnet Hill”. As I was walking, I noticed holes in the ground and some soft spots in the dirt… which usually means one thing- snakes. So I continued until I saw fresh droppings that were obviously too large to be some little harmless creature’s feces. I picked up my garnets and walked slowly and calmly (well, somewhat) back to my car, watching where I was stepping and glancing over my shoulder to watch out for any coyotes or other large cats that would find me delicious.

I got to my car and started heading back on the road I had come in on… but then that little adventurer in my head started yelling at me:

“Lopez- What are you doing?!? You drove all the way out here… and that is it? When is the next time you are going to get to drive through the deserts of Utah?”

So of course, I turned on a little side dirt road that was needless to say, not very appropriate for my little Nissan Sentra. Inching along, I drove over a crest in the dirt road that I hadn’t noticed, scraping the bottom of my car pretty bad. I stopped shortly after to get out and look under my car to see if I had done any serious damage. *On a three month roadtrip- damage to my vehicle would NOT be good!*

So I walked behind my car, squatted down, and bent over to look underneath.

And that’s when i heard the rattle. I could tell it was close, but couldn’t see it yet. I froze and literally whispered aloud: “MMMkkkkkaaayyyyyy…”

I pivoted slowly around on my heels and saw there was a large rattlesnake less than a foot away from my feet, all coiled up, ready to protect his turf. I slowly backed away, keeping my eye on the snake, hoping I wouldn’t back into another one, and got into my car.

Of course at that point I had to take out my camera and videotape the snake because, c’mon, I didn’t think anyone would believe me.

I drove away… back to civilization, with all limbs in tact.

Now here are the things I did right:

-I did not jump or make any fast moves

-I was wearing boots as opposed to my normal everyday flip flops that I rock religously

-I didn’t play with the snake like a slinky

-I resisted the urge to poop my pants

Things I did wrong:

-I did not bring a hiking stick with me (can always come in handy!)

-I went into the desert alone (OK, I’ll admit it- probably a bad call… but this is the only time I will admit it! So you better screen grab this post!)

-I did not bring a belt with me (In case of a bite, you can take a belt and tighten it around the appendage to slow the blood flow/ slow the flow of the poison. But be careful! You do not want to put it too tight or else you can risk amputation of the limb- make sure to loosen the belt/ cord as the bite swells)

If you ever run into a situation, here is an article on what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake. But they say the best advice is not to get bitten at all… which is what I did! Yay!

“You’re hiking through the forest, picnicking on the prairie, or spotting giant cacti in the desert. Suddenly, you hear a sound you’ve dreaded since you were a child–the characteristic hiss of a rattlesnake’s tail. You try to back slowly away, but the snake feels threatened and strikes, biting right through your boots. What do you do?

Rattlesnakes and their Bites
Rattlesnakes are one of the four species of poisonous snakes found in the US. Varieties of rattlesnakes, including the Eastern Diamondback, Timber Rattlesnake, and Prairie Rattlesnake, can be found in each of the 48 contiguous states. Some varieties are relatively small, but others can grow to 8 feet long. The Diamondback, found in western states, is responsible for more US snakebite deaths than any other snake.

The venom in a rattlesnake bite is largely hemotoxic, which means it is damages tissue, particularly in the circulatory system. The venom also contains neurotoxic components that hinder the nervous system. The venom of baby rattlesnakes typically contains more neurotoxic components than that of adult snakes.

If you get bitten by a snake and don’t know if it was a rattlesnake or not, look at the bite. If you see two fang marks, the snake was poisonous. You will also have pain and swelling at the site of a rattlesnake bite, and may feel weak or nauseous, or have a rubbery taste in your mouth.

If You are Bitten
First, don’t panic. Of course, that’s not easy when you’ve just been bitten by a rattlesnake, but it’s important. If you panic or run, the venom will move more quickly through your system. Get away from the snake. Try to catch a glimpse of the snake, because antivenin is snake-specific. Do not try to catch or kill the snake for identification, though. It puts you at risk for another bite. Call emergency medical services immediately, if you are able.

After you call emergency services, or before you go for help, try to immobilize the bitten area. Remove anything constricting, such as rings or shoes. Try to fashion a splint, keeping the bitten area below the heart. If you have a snakebite kit you may try to suction out the poison, but do not cut the bite or put your mouth on it. Both can introduce bacteria, making the bite more difficult to treat. Wash the area with soap and water, but do not apply ice to the area; it makes the bite worse.

It’s important not to use a tight tourniquet around the bitten limb. If you cut off blood supply, you put yourself at risk for amputation. You may tie a cord or piece of cloth around the bitten area to slow the flow of venom, but make sure you can slip a finger under the tie. Also, remember to loosen the tie as the area swells.

Hopefully, help will arrive shortly. If you must move in order to call for or get help, wait about twenty minutes from the time of the bite in order to slow the flow of the venom. If you know that it will be several hours before help arrives, lie still, with the bite below your heart. Use a blanket of some sort to preserve body heat.

Of course, the best way to survive a rattlesnake bite is not to get bitten in the first place. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, familiarize yourself with the types of poisonous snakes you may come in contact with, and their habitats and habits. Remember that snakes are most active when the temperature is warm. Always be alert to the possibility of snakebites when the weather is warm and you are in a place frequented by rattlesnakes.”

OK! Well this is Lopez from 8th Continent Soymilk signing off! If you are not keeping me company on the road yet- make sure to add me on Facebook!

http://facebook.com/8thlopez