Six Hours Too Late: Study Finds Dangerous Delays in Florida Snakebite Treatment

Bites from venomous snakes can be a death sentence, but not if antivenom is administered shortly afterward. Yet the first comprehensive study in Florida on the chronology, treatments, and outcomes of venomous snake bites found an average delay of over six hours from bite to antivenom administration. 

With data from 546 cases, snakebite victims first waited, on average, over two hours prior to seeking help from a healthcare provider. Researchers found no relationship between the time to arrival at the health care facility and the distance necessary to drive, indicating that delays were not due to travel.

During this time, nearly 10% of patients attempted to heal the snakebite on their own using methods with no verified medical effectiveness such as suction venom removal or tourniquets. These attempts at self treatment likely delayed appropriate treatments at healthcare facilities and suggests people may be underscoring the severity of their bite or are uninformed on the need for prompt antivenom treatment. 

Additionally, at least one-third of bites were likely preventable, given that two-thirds of all bites were located on the hand, and one-third of bite patients reported interacting purposely with a wild venomous snake. 

After initial contact with a healthcare provider, antivenom administration took an additional delay of over four hours, totaling an average of over six hours since the initial bite. Such delays were likely due to establishing a proper treatment plan with multiple medical professionals after thoroughly assessing the patient and injury through questioning to understand the severity of the bite and the species involved. Although Florida has six venomous species of snakes, bites are still rare, making treatment plans infrequently enacted and therefore subsequent actions likely slower and more carefully thought through than more common, even serious, medical concerns frequently encountered.  

Some patients experienced serious medical concerns such as shock, respiratory distress, or seizures, and 10 patients received fasciotomies, where pressure is relieved in the muscles by cutting through fascia. Three patients died. 

The long average wait time of two hours for snake bite victims to seek professional medical care, combined with some attempting to administer ineffective self-treatment, underscores the need for more widespread education on immediate and proper antivenom treatment for venomous snake bites in Florida and likely elsewhere around the world.

If you are bitten by a snake, especially one with which you’re unfamiliar, seek care from a medical professional to aid in a swift and complete recovery.