By Matt Windsor
In the immediate aftermath of a snakebite, a natural question is “Will I die?”
The answer is, very likely, no, even if the snake is venomous. Only about five people die per year from snakebite in the United States. So, once the initial shock has passed, there is a better question to ask: “Will I be maimed for life?”
“So many people — in the Southeastern United States, especially — have persistent wounds, bad swelling and morbidity issues after snake envenomation, and there was no good place to send them for follow-up,” said Dr. William Rushton, associate professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Emergency Medicine in the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine.
The AlabamaWx Weather Blog gladly brings you an excerpt of this article through a partnership with the Alabama NewsCenter. You can see the complete post featuring all the associated images, videos, and links by clicking HERE.
