As you would expect, the Southern states are hit hardest, but not all snake bites are fatal.
Was it a rainy winter in your area? Statistics show the wetter your winter, the more snakes you’re likely to have in your environment, come summer and fall.
And so, ‘tis the season. Snake bites remain rare in the United States, but they do happen and they can be fatal depending on the species, and so you want to be on the lookout.
A study done between 2000 and 2013 found the most venomous snakes reside in Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Florida and Texas.
The copperhead is the venomous snake that tends to bite the most people. The good news is that its venom is the least toxic, and so you’re likely to survive the encounter.
The eastern and western diamondback rattlesnakes account for the greatest number of fatal snake bites in the country however, and can be found in dry, pine flatwoods, sandy woodlands and coastal scrub habitats throughout southern North Carolina on down through Florida, and west to Louisiana.
Related: 5 Signs You Might Have Asthma
What should you do if you are bitten?
Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately, as time is of the essence. Remain calm, and move away from the snake. Take your jewelry and tight clothing off before your body starts to swell.
The Mayo Clinic advises that you keep the bitten area of your body below your heart level, and clean the wound but DON’T flush it with water.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they’re stimulants and can make your symptoms worse. Don’t apply ice, don’t capture the snake, don’t remove the venom from your skin but do try to recall what the snake looks like for best treatment.
For more information, click here.
