Poisonous Snake Bites Landscaper

HIALEAH, FL — First responders from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's Venom 1 unit rushed anti-venom to Palmetto Hospital on Thursday after a 34-year-old worker was bitten by a venomous cottonmouth snake while performing landscaping work. The worker was not identified. But he was bitten in the western Broward County suburb of Pembroke Pines.

Lt. Felipe Lay of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue told Patch that the worker was wearing gloves at the time of the incident between 11 a.m. to noon. Lay said that the snake's fangs pierced through the man's gloves. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Aventura Patch.)

Cottonmouths, also called water moccasins, are known to stand their ground and may gape their mouths widely, revealing a cottony-white interior, which gives them their name, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

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The cottonmouth's bite may result in severe, immediate pain with rapid swelling, discoloration of the skin, difficult or rapid breathing, changes in heart rate or rhythm, metallic, rubbery, or minty taste in the mouth, numbness or tingling around the mouth, tongue, scalp, feet or the bite area, swelling of the lymph nodes and signs of shock, according to WebMD.

In this case, Lay said that the landscaper made his own way to the hospital, which delayed his treatment. Such a delay in treatment carries an added risk, he said.

That's due to the nature of anti-venom. "It doesn't reverse the damage. It prevents any further damage," according to Lay. "It's not the end-all cure."

Lay added that the landscaper may experience some "minimal deficit" as a consequence of not receiving treatment immediately.

Encounters with venomous snakes are more common this time of year in South Florida, particularly in communities that are located in western areas closest to the Florida Everglades.

"This is snake bite season from April to October," Lay explained. "The snakes actually bury themselves underground, but the rains flush them out."

Lay added that people who are bitten by any snake should not try to capture the animal, but rather take a cellphone picture if possible to help identify the species.

"Call 9-1-1 and get to the hospital," he said.

He said that people can take precautions when doing yard work to minimize their chance of getting bitten, such as wearing closed-toe footwear and avoiding contact with wild snakes.

"For anybody that’s doing landscaping work just be a aware. Don’t go reaching in blindly to areas," he said. "Many times children will try to capture this snake because it looks like a python but it’s actually a venomous snake."

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Video and worker photos courtesy of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Photo of cottonmouth by Virginia State Parks via Flickr