NEWS BLIPS
Influx To The Outdoors Brings Increased Risk of Tick, Snake Bites
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through The Cullman Times' website.
The Cullman Times reports on the increased risks of being bitten by ticks, snakes, and other insects as summer rolls in. While the season brings the opportunities for more activities, this is also the season of heat-related illnesses, snakes and ticks. The Cullman Regional Emergency Department, since April has treated 50 patients for tick bites, 40 for heat-related illnesses and four for snake bites. None of the snake bites required administration of CroFab (antivenom), which means the bites were either non-poisonous snakes or “dry bites” (no venom was released).
Avoid ticks can be found as much as possible. According to David Palmer of The Cullman Times, "Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening, or hunting could bring you in close contact with ticks. Many people get ticks in their own yard or neighborhood, noted Emergency Department Manager Chad Knop. All of the ticks listed here potentially can transmit diseases that require extensive medical treatment.\
Poisonous snakes in the Cullman, AL area include copperheads, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and coral snakes. However, non-poisonous snake bites should not be ignored because they can lead to infection, according to information provided by Cullman Regional.
Read more on snake and tick bite prevention in the Cullman Times article.