Bitten by a snake in New Mexico's backcountry? Walk, don't run
Summer is peak snake season in New Mexico, increasing potential encounters and if you're an avid hiker, medical experts have some tips.
Movies often suggest snake bites mean instant death but it is more myth than fact, especially because today, medical care is not far off.
Dr. Jon Femling, emergency medicine physician at the University of New Mexico Hospital, said awareness and avoidance are the best defenses against a snake surprise this summer. He is often asked if applying a tourniquet above the bite is critical to keep the venom from spreading.
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"In the Southwest and with rattlesnake bites, don't do it," Femling stressed. "What can often happen is if you restrict that, sometimes you have worse damage where that is. The most important thing is to get to safety as soon as possible."
Femling added if you're hiking and hear a rattle — the iconic sound made by a rattlesnake — back off and switch directions, and do not throw rocks. It can provoke the snake and give it time to get ready to strike out at you. While rattlers are the most dangerous snakes in the Southwest, they only strike as a last resort. New Mexico has more than 50 kinds of snakes but only about 10 are venomous.
Most snake bites are not deadly but Femling warned not to delay care and instead get to an emergency department as quickly as possible. If you're alone, stay calm.
"Under the ideal circumstances, you would have someone else drive you because you're not going to be feeling great from what just happened," Femling recommended. "If you're able to call an ambulance, that's great. But if you're way in the backcountry and you're just going to sit there and wait for someone to come and get you, it is better for you to get out as quickly as possible."
Femling reminded people if you are out in the foothills and get bitten, stop, take a few breaths and walk rather than run back to your vehicle, as you do not want your heart racing unnecessarily. Once at an emergency room, care teams can give an initial dose of antivenom and monitor your case, if needed.
