I Survived a Cottonmouth Bite. Here’s What You Should Know.

The thought of getting bitten by a venomous snake is a nightmare for most people. For 19-year-old Florida man Zamar Miller, it became a reality. Stepping out of his house on the night of July 4, 2019, Miller got bitten by a venomous cottonmouth on the sidewalk in front of his house. His story is a cautionary tale for all of us about what to do — and what not to do —  if it happens to you.

One Wrong Step

As seen in surveillance camera footage aired on local news, Zamar took a step out the front door of his house right onto a snake. His home in Pembroke Pines, Florida, is next to a nature preserve that is an ideal habitat for water moccasins (also known as cottonmouths). The snake bit his leg, injecting him with a painful dose of venom.

Quick Response

In near-panic, Zamar hopped back into the house and called 911. Remarkably, authorities were able to locate the snake nearby so the species could be confirmed, while Zamar was rushed to the ER. Doctors contacted the Venom Response Team of Miami-Dade County, which has one of the largest public antivenom banks in the country. Antivenom neutralizes the toxins in venom and prevents it from spreading and doing more damage.

Quickly getting the treatment he needed saved Zamar’s leg, and possibly his life. He spent three days in the intensive care unit, but he still needed to use a walker after returning home until his body could get back to 100%. Full recovery from this kind of bite takes weeks and sometimes requires physical therapy.

How Potent Is Cottonmouth Venom?

There are up to 30 species of venomous snakes in the United States. In addition to water moccasins, others include rattlesnakes, coral snakes, and copperheads. All four of these types of snakes are found in Florida and many other southeastern states. Coral snakes have the most potent venom, followed by rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads.

What Does Cottonmouth Venom Do?

In an average year, up to 8,000 Americans get bitten by a venomous snake, but only about five die. And none of those fatalities are from water moccasin bites, which happen about 250 times a year. Bites cause severe pain and swelling. Left untreated, water moccasin venom will kill nerves and muscle tissue to the point of losing functionality of a limb and, in very rare cases, may require amputation. The amount of damage depends on the victim’s health, age, the location of the bite, the quantity of venom, and how quickly they receive medical attention. Deaths from these bites are rare but can happen, especially with young children.

Prevention Tips

Here are some tips to avoid experiencing the sharp end of a cottonmouth like Zamar did:

• Cover up: Zamar said the biggest lesson he learned was not to go outside barefoot. If you are in snake territory, wear boots and long pants.
• Be alert around water: Moccasins are semi-aquatic so you could encounter them on or near lakes, ponds, or wetlands. Be alert when you’re swimming, boating, or walking along the shore.
• Leave it alone: If you see one, you should back far away, and don’t try to provoke it or move it. They can strike from a distance of up to 2 feet.
• See where you’re stepping: Don’t place your hands and feet anywhere you can’t see. If it’s dark, use a flashlight or your camera light.
• Don’t walk at night: Cottonmouths and many other snake species are nocturnal hunters. As cold-blooded reptiles, they also like to lie on pavement in the evening to warm up from residual heat.

If You’re Bitten

Getting bitten can be terrifying but remember, most snake bites are not fatal. They’re painful and they’re a serious emergency, but there’s a 99.9 % chance you’re going to be fine. Here’s what you do:

• Stay calm. Breathe deeply, try to relax, and don’t move around a lot. A slow, calm heartbeat will not pump the venom through your system as fast.
• Call 911 immediately or get someone to drive you to the nearest medical facility. But drive calmly and safely. Statistically, you’re far more likely to die in a car crash than from a snake bite.
• Keep the bite below heart level. This will slow down the movement of the venom through your body.
• Remove binding jewelry or clothing. There will be swelling. Take off rings, bracelets, watches, and tight clothing from the affected part of the body so that these won’t have to be cut off in the ER.
• Safely identify the species, if possible. If the snake is still close by, keeping a safe distance you or someone else should snap a photo of it or at least try to remember its size, coloration, shape of the head, etc. This will help medical personnel know what kind of antivenom to use.

What NOT To Do

What a lot of people know about snakebites they probably learned from Westerns on t.v. Don’t do these dangerous things if you get bitten by a snake:

• Do not cut the wound or suck out the venom. Venom is absorbed so fast, by the time you do it, it won’t help. Saliva can introduce bacteria and cause infection. If you have a cut in your mouth or accidentally bite yourself while doing this, the venom will enter your body now in the middle of your face, with a fast track to your heart and brain and causing swelling and possible permanent disfigurement to your face.
• Don’t apply a tourniquet. Restricting the blood flow can concentrate venom in a limb so that it damages tissues there more quickly. It can also cause the heart to beat faster and the blood pressure to increase, which pumps already-released venom above the tourniquet more rapidly all over your body.
• Don’t try to kill the snake. They usually strike defensively when someone gets too close or steps on them. After biting, it will want to get away. Let it. If you or someone else does kill a snake, stay away from the body as it can continue to move and bite reflexively. Even a severed snake head can still deliver a venomous bite.

Zamar made some mistakes in prevention but did all the right things to get medical help right away and make a full recovery. Hopefully, we can learn from his experience and avoid finding these things out the hard way.