Here's my safety procedures. Any tips or comments on anything I may be overlooking or have forgotten are appreciated. Just don't turn it into a debate on personal views on keeping hots. Constructful comments please, nothing like "Here's your tip, get rid of them"....
First off, the cage is locked, and remains locked with the key out of reach until I am ready with my partner. I never open it up without a safety. Most of the time my safety is an EMT-B, with an RN (his wife) right around the corner. He knows the drill should I get bit. Upon being bit, he will secure the snakes while I get to work starting two large bore IVs in the unaffected side. I will make one attempt in my AC before moving on to pedal veins allowing me to use both hands. I keep my kit next to the enclosure.
If I am alert and oriented with a mild to moderate envenomation I will be driving there by car. If I feel it's severe enough or feels like I may be heading towards unconsciousness I will be meeting an ambulance half way. If I am severely envenomated and can't support my own airway (highly unlikely) my partner takes it over until they can arrive, at which point I have my care/info sheets ready for them.
For the ED physician I have species information with some treatment/ toxicology info.
Personally I feel this is more than enough, considering it is a native species causing many envenomations every year, rarely being extremely serious. These are my current procedures for this species, when I get some different ones, they will change accordingly.
Hopefully that's all of it. I'm tired and might have forgotten something....
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