My safety procedures for my current hots

RandyRhoads · 01-03-13, 01:27 AM

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....

RandyRhoads · 01-03-13, 01:28 AM

Corey209 · 01-03-13, 01:50 AM

Awesome hot and procedures, my favorite would have to be the albino rattlers though.

Gungirl · 01-03-13, 08:18 AM

I hope you never need all that stuff but I think you are a VERY wise man having it all ready just in case.

Lankyrob · 01-03-13, 08:22 AM

Looks good Randy, my only comment is where you have the lock positioned, i was told to always put them halfway up the glass rathher than top or bottom - i never asked why and have no idea if it makes any difference at all

Falconeer999 · 01-03-13, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Looks good Randy, my only comment is where you have the lock positioned, i was told to always put them halfway up the glass rathher than top or bottom - i never asked why and have no idea if it makes any difference at all

That's because the strongest place to separate the panel off the track is where the lock is located. By having a lock at the extreme bottom, the top is weaker to being pried apart or forced open. Whether a snake could do that, I don't know. A person definitely can.

If the lock is in the middle, the force needed is spread out evenly, though it's not as strong as putting it at any one extreme.

alessia55 · 01-03-13, 10:17 AM

Question- do you not put signs on the cages that say "venomous- do not open" or something like that? The friends that I have with venomous snakes always had a sign on each cage that was venomous that said "danger - venomous" or something similar in case the police or an ambulance or medics or anyone else has to come in. Just a thought.

It looks like you are well prepared in case of an emergency.... I hope you never need any of it though!! Stay safe.

DragonsEye · 01-03-13, 11:01 AM

Looks good to my unexperienced eyes, though I do think Alessia has an excellent point... Placement of a "Danger Venomous Snake" sign on any and all enclosures containig such sems like it might be a good idea.

RandyRhoads · 01-03-13, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Looks good Randy, my only comment is where you have the lock positioned, i was told to always put them halfway up the glass rathher than top or bottom - i never asked why and have no idea if it makes any difference at all

Quote:

Originally Posted by alessia55

Question- do you not put signs on the cages that say "venomous- do not open" or something like that?

Thank you both, I will start putting the lock in the middle, and put up a sign. A sign should have been the biggest no brainer and first thing I did ....yet it slipped my mind. Was I expecting people to know what Crotalus oreganus is
? Thanks.

rmfsnakes32 · 01-03-13, 01:20 PM

Randy you have a very well thought out emergency plan I'm very impressed. Hopefully any newbs to the trade read this thread

Corey209 · 01-03-13, 01:27 PM

Isn't rattler antivenin extremely expensive?

RandyRhoads · 01-03-13, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

Isn't rattler antivenin extremely expensive?

Yes, somewhere around $2,000-$4,000 a vial I believe. And it's not unheard over to use over 50 vials.

Will0W783 · 01-03-13, 01:37 PM

Looks good Randy! I agree, though, about what Alessia said. I put bright yellow stickers that say "Caution. Venomous snake" and another yellow one with the scientific species name and common name. I know what they are, and ostensibly anyone who comes into my house will know what they are, but it's still good to have those bright visual reminders. Also, in the event that something happened to you and emergency personnel had to come in, it's good for them to know what is what.

Other than that, your procedures and protocol looks good! :-)

Robyn@SYR · 01-03-13, 04:30 PM

I am absolutely unqualified to make any judgement on this, but it looks good from here!