Venomous snakes are some of the most terrifying animals in the nation. These dangerous snakes are in abundance in the United States, and one bite can send a person to the hospital in critical condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, park rangers and those that work in wilderness, brush areas are at a larger risk to a snake bite. If you are bit by a snake while hiking on public trails, chances are that there won’t be anyone there who could serve as a defendant in a personal injury case. Yet if you are bit by a snake on the job, or if you were required to be in a place where the venomous snake was located, then you may have the right to seek damages.

There are a variety of different venomous snakes that slither throughout the United States every year. One of the most common of these dangerous reptiles is a rattlesnake. Often baby rattlers are even more dangerous than adults, because their rattling tail has not developed yet. These snakes can strike at one-third their body length and use their rattles as a warning when they feel threatened. They often emerge in the sunny weather and will bask on rocks or in fields. Another dangerous snake to watch out for is the copperhead. These snakes normally have an hourglass shaped pattern on their body, and can be up to 36 inches long. They are not usually aggressive, but will bite if they are approached or stepped on.

Cottonmouths or Water Moccasins are snakes that are normally found in the wetland areas and southeastern states. They are large and don’t scare easily. If you are near one of these snakes chances are that they will try to strike. Coral snakes are another venomous snake that is often confused with its non-venomous lookalike, the king snake. Coral snakes have red bands that touch yellow bands on their body. They tend to live in the southern United States and hide in marshy areas or sandy locations.

The CDC declares that outdoor workers are at most risk to being attacked by a dangerous snake. Farmers, foresters, groundskeepers, construction workers, pavers, roofers, painters, landscapers, gardeners and mechanics are only a few of the workers that are at risk for being bitten. Essentially, any person who works outside on a regular basis in an area native to these snakes is at risk to a bite. About 7,000 to 8,000 people are attacked by venomous snakes each year. About 5 people die from a snake bite every year as well. The number of deaths would be much higher if people did not seek immediate medical care. At a hospital, the doctors and nurses can often help to remove the venom from a person’s system before it becomes fatal.

When you are bitten by a venomous snake, the first thing you should do is contact 911. You will want medical attention right away before the venom starts to infiltrate your system. Remember the color and size of the snake. If you know what breed it was, keep this information in the back of your head. It will help the doctors to treat the bite effectively if they know what type of snake you were bitten by. As well, you need to try to keep still after a bite. This will slow the spread of the venom. In addition, you should inform your supervisor if you’re bitten at work. You should apply first aid by sitting down with the bite below the heart if possible. Wash the area with soap and water and cover the bite with a clean dressing while waiting for the emergency medical services to arrive.

Despite what you’ve seen in the movies, never try to suck the venom out of a bite or apply ice to the wound. Do not apply a tourniquet or slash the wound with a knife. All of these theatrical actions will only make your condition worse. Contact emergency medical attention even if you are not experiencing pain after the bite. Some snakes also have a Novocain-type fluid in their venom that will numb you from the pain for the time being. If you are a worker who is at risk to a snake bite, you should stay away from snakes when possible, and never try to handle them. You should recommend that your employers put on a training course so that you can identify which snakes are dangerous and which ones aren’t. As well, you should always wear long pants and close-toed shoes so that your skin is not exposed to the snakes. Talk to a personal injury lawyer today if you were injured by a snake bite on the job and want to seek worker’s compensation.