As you know the rattle snakes are coming out. I love hiking and horn hunting but rattle snakes make me take each step on high a

[www.dropjhook.com]

As you know the rattle snakes are coming out. I love hiking and horn hunting but rattle snakes make me take each step on high alert. I just want to konw what kind of snake boot is best for comfort and protection. Also what is the best snake bite kit to have?

[Bo]

One thing you might consider is snake bite chaps over boots. Cabela's has some on sale at http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0014900942479a&type=product&cmCat=SEAR CH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Product_liberal&QueryText=snakebi te+chaps&sort=all&Go.y=0&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&Nty=1&ha sJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch% 2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&Go.x=0&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

Use of the Sawyer snake bite kit is controversial, with some studies showing no benefit and others indicating only use in the first 3 minutes will benefit. As far as snakebite kits, I am not a big fan. As a retired ER RN, I have seen the use of snakebite kits cause as much if not more damage to the patient than the original injury. That is not to say that the bites can't be serious, they can be and people can lose life and/or limb.
In the ER, treatment is usually based on the degree of envenomation. I have given anti-venom 3 times in about 35 years. Two of those patients ended up in the ICU secondary to an anaphylactic reaction to the anti-venom.
Your best treatment is avoidance and from there:
No.1. Remove the victim from close proximity to the snake
No.2. Keep the victim calm and as inactive as possible.
No.3. Remove any rings, watches, clothing from the affected extremity.
No.4. Do not incise the wound or use electrical shocks to the wound.
No.5. Do not suck on the wound, that may lead to increased chance of infection.
No.6. Cool compresses applied to the area. DO NOT USE ICE!!!
No.6. Use of an Aussie wrap has been beneficial.
No.7. Splinting the extremity maintaining the extremity at the level of the heart is very important. DO NOT ELEVATE THE AFFECTED EXTREMITY ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE HEART!!!
see http://www.surviveoutdoors.com/reference/snakes/snake-bites.asp. This essentially the same info I just gave.

[Big O]

As usual, Bo is THE go to guy.

[www.dropjhook.com]

Thank you, for you many years of wisdom! You probly saved a limb of mine in the future i was thinking shocking would work i guess scratch that idea.

[Derik Lee]

Good stuff