13-year-old bitten by rattlesnake gets airlifted to hospital, California cops say
A 13-year-old was airlifted to a hospital after being bitten by a rattlesnake on a rural California property, according to a sheriff’s office.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said it sent in its helicopter to Calistoga, about 30 miles northwest of Sonoma, after learning the boy had been bitten on Sunday, July 16, according to a July 17 Facebook post.
The helicopter crew arrived about six minutes after takeoff, deputies said.
The sheriff’s office said it airlifted the boy to a hospital after determining he “needed to get to a hospital right away” and ensuring the hospital had “the proper anti-venom.”
“We are hoping for a speedy recovery,” deputies said.
In early June, a 7-year-old was bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking with his family at Mount Diablo State Park in Walnut Creek and was airlifted to a hospital, McClatchy News reported.
Snake bites
Venomous snakes bite more than 7,000 people each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“About 5 of those people die,” the CDC said. “The number of deaths would be much higher if people did not seek medical care.”
Rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths and coral snakes are all venomous snakes that live in the U.S.
If you see a snake, back away slowly and don’t touch it. Here’s what the CDC says you should do if a snake bites you:
Try to remember the color and shape of the snake. It could help with treating the bite.
Stay calm and still to slow down the spread of venom.
Seek medical care as soon as possible.
Apply first aid if you can’t get to the hospital quickly.
Wash the wound with warm, soapy water.
Cover the bite with a clean cloth or dressing.
Don’t slash the wound with a knife or try to suck out venom.
Don’t apply ice to the wound.
This story was originally published July 18, 2023 at 1:27 PM with the headline "13-year-old bitten by rattlesnake gets airlifted to hospital, California cops say."
