Hikers, dogs warned of rattlesnake risk
Warm weather during late summer and early fall are bringing rattlesnakes out to some parks, open spaces and other public areas of Colorado Springs.
Two visiting firefighters from Florida rescued a woman last Saturday after she was bitten by a rattlesnake at Pulpit Rock Park.
Anthony Perazzelli and Carlos Coello, of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, helped the unidentified woman after they heard her scream. They were in town to attend the annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial ceremony.
Perazzelli carried the woman on his back and took her to local responders. She was treated at Penrose Hospital. Her condition is unknown.
Experts say it’s rare in Colorado for a snake to bite deeply enough to inject venom, but anyone bitten should seek medical care immediately.
“Stay calm, don’t exert yourself, immobilize the wound at heart level and remove restricting items,” said Dr. Stein Bronsky, of Penrose Hospital and the Colorado Springs Fire Department. “The best thing you can do is find someone to help you, or call 911.”
Bronsky also said don’t place pressure on a wound, don’t apply a tourniquet and don’t try to suck out the venom.
“We used to recommend those steps but not anymore,” he said. “Don’t do anything to make the venom spread to other parts of the body and make the situation worse.”
Dogs, with their curious nature, are especially vulnerable to rattlesnake bites. A canine vaccine is available, but veterinarians disagree on its effectiveness.
“We don’t recommend the rattlesnake vaccine,” said Dr. Gretchen Kasameyer, of Cheyenne Mountain Animal Hospital. “We recommend just taking your dog into the hospital. We don’t think it helps, and there’s always the question of does it do some damage.”
Kasameyer said veterinarians can treat snakebite symptoms with fluids and other drugs.
However, Dr. Roman Dye, of Westside Animal Hospital, believes in the vaccine.
“People think we overvaccinate our pets, and that could be a con for some people,” he said. “Otherwise, we don’t see a whole lot of immune reaction to (the vaccine).”
Experts say rattlers in Colorado have a less potent venom than their cousins in California, and that bites are rare and fatal bites even rarer.
“If you just watch where you’re going and keep control of your dog, you’ll never have a problem,” said Nik Nelson, who walked his dog Tuesday in Pulpit Rock Park.
