Snakebites On The Rise In Georgia: Nearly 400 Bitten, Says Report

ATLANTA, GA — Nearly 400 people have been bitten by snakes in Georgia this year, a marked increase in numbers from last year. And one woman died from an allergic reaction after she was bitten in May by a rattlesnake south of Savannah. According to the Georgia Poison Control Center, there have been 392 snakebites recorded in the state so far. At this time last year, that number was 355.

Also, the number of people needed anti-venom medication has increased to 98 this year, compared to 79 at this point in 2018.

Dr. Robert Geller, medical director of the center, told WSB-TV about half of Georgia's snakebites are nonvenomous. Geller, who has led the center for more than three decades, said not everyone who gets bitten needs hospitalization, but if a victim immediately feels sick after the bite, they should call 911 immediately.

Keeping a safe distance from snakes is always the best plan, but with Georgia's record-breaking heat and a housing boom that encroaches on areas where snakes have been living, that may not always be possible.

The National Weather Service said that record high temperatures were broken in Atlanta and Macon on from Tuesday, Sept 10 to Thursday, Sept. 12. Atlanta reached a temperature of 96 degrees on Sept. 11 that ties the daily record which was set back in 2010.

In June, a 62-year-old woman died from a rattlesnake bite she received a month ago while visiting a friend in Brunswick, Georgia. Priscilla Meridith, of Waverly, suffered an allergic reaction and heart attack after being bitten May 17 by a canebrake (timber) rattlesnake.

There are numerous venomous snakes in Georgia, including pit vipers, copperheads, and pigmy rattlesnakes, according to Georgia's Department of Natural Resources. Timber rattlesnakes may reach up to 5 feet in length and some may have an orange-brown stripe down the middle of their back. The tail is black with rattles at the tip. This species is passive if not pestered, rarely attacking if you back away and leave it alone, GDNR added.

If you are bitten by a venomous snake, GDNR provided the following advice:

• Do stay calm. Keep the bitten area below heart level, and remove rings, watches, and tight clothing. Try to identify the offending snake if you can do so easily, without putting yourself at risk or wasting valuable time.
• Do get to the nearest hospital or emergency medical facility immediately, even if you suspect a dry bite. The universal treatment for a serious snakebite is the use of antivenin or snakebite serum, which should only be administered by a medical doctor. If local doctors aren't sure which antivenin to use, advise them to contact the American Association of Poison Control Centers (1-800-222-1222).
• Don't eat or drink anything, including alcoholic beverages or medicines.
• Don't run or engage in strenuous activity.
• Don't cut into or incise bite marks with a blade.
• Don't apply a tourniquet after a pit viper bite (although it may be helpful after an elapid bite).
• Don't use a stun gun or other electrical shock. Don't freeze or apply extreme cold to the area of the bite.