Originally posted by: Mike
Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
Originally posted by: KK
I had no idea that their bite was this destructive.
That doesn't seem like the "norm", I'd wager he was unlucky; some rattlers are more potent than others, and defensive strikes aren't usually with full venom - this case might have been different, and different people (or their bodies rather) react differently to such things. We also don't know much about any 1st aid.
Well, I think the thing here was the fact that it was 5+ hours before this kid got to any hospital. Then he had to be transfered to another hospital. I think time was the biggest factor, but I am sure all of those you mentioned play a roll as well.
True, I'd agree that time was a pretty big factor, but there are many cases where rattle snake bites aren't necessarily fatal or even gruesomely disfiguring like this case.
The boy was fairly young - only 13. We don't know why the snake bit him (he doesn?t say anything about provoking it or hearing the warning rattle the snakes give to try and ward off attackers before even having to resort to defensive striking)
I find it unlikely he was just bitten right out of the blue unless he really startled it (which seems unlikely because he was merely sitting on a rock with his hands at his side...)
The post I made was an attempt to disarm the OP (as well as others who view this thread) from assuming all rattle snake bites end up causing such damage as they certainly do not.
Just think of it this way - some people are deathly allergic to a single bee sting. The sting injects venom just as poisonous snakes inject venom. This boy very well could be more susceptible to the effects of the venom than your average person - combine that with being young and the time it took to receive proper care (and possibly no first aid) and you get such destructive results.