Keep those snake boots on!

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Please for my love of meth tell me he had insurance

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We live and learn. My incident was totally avoidable. Thanks for all the prayers that were lifted up for me from members of this forum. You have no idea how much it meant to me and my family. My September Surprise The preparation for deer season is one of my favorite times of the year. The anticipation of the upcoming deer season is fueled by game camera pics of the new season's crop of bucks. On September 13th, my dad and I drove up to our Farm in northern Claiborne County to plant food plots, put up a couple of tents and do some trimming on shooting lanes in preparation of the opening day of Archery Season. I was having fuel injection problems on my tractor so my dad and I decided to be productive with our time and put a couple more tents and trim out shooting lanes on some other stands. We were in one of our favorite stand sites which was a half acre load out area in the middle of some woods. We mostly hunt this area by loc on's but we have a short tripod out in the woods looking in to this area that would be a really nice spot for my dad to hunt with his crossbow. All we had to do is trim some shooting lanes for him to see the plot. Like most load out areas, the slash and wood debris is pushed to the edges so that the area can be bush hogged and disked. This leaves the edges with scattered piles of stacked logs and dirt. I was trimming dad's spot nicely with three shooting lanes that would give him clear shots into the oat food plot when I saw another spot that he could see through with minimal trimming. I eased over to the edge of the plot and was cutting small sweet gum limbs when IT happened. I felt a violent, sharp, hard "hit" on my lower left leg that I had never felt before. I jumped away quickly and raised my jeans to look. I really didn't have to look, but my fears were realized when I pulled up my jeans and saw two holes over an inch apart, both pouring blood. I said to my dad that "I've just been bitten by a large rattlesnake and we need to go". Before leaving, I took a step into the edge of the woods and located the large yellow phase Timber Rattlesnake that was coiled up under a pile of debris that I was standing by. After talking to some friends and rehashing the incident, I believe that I probably stepped on the snake or cornered him causing him to administer a defensive strike. I was fairly calm through the next few minutes, although my dad was not taking it as well as me. We made the short buggy ride back to the house and jumped into his truck. The pain from this bite was immediate, sharp and getting worse by the minute. As soon as I got in the truck I began calling 911. My years of being a volunteer fireman/first responder kicked in and I started thinking ahead of what was needed to get me the best and fastest treatment possible. I was able to notify Warren County dispatch what was going on and asked that they notify River Region Hospital in Vicksburg they would have a snakebite victim at their ER in 30 minutes. I also asked Dispatch to send a Deputy to intercept my dad so that I could get faster transportation into Vicksburg. 10 miles out of Vicksburg, we met up with that deputy and I got in his car. By now, the pain in my left leg was really bad and I couldn't put any weight on it. 3 miles from the hospital there was an ambulance and first responders staging however, I started to tell the deputy to just take me on to the hospital, but I was starting to get symptomatic. My mouth was dry and tingling; I was starting to perspire and could "feel" the venom's effects. I was also concerned about my going into shock. I told the deputy to take my to the ambulance where I could get immediate attention just in case things turned for the worse. This proved to be a good decision as my blood pressure was 175/115 and they were able to administer the first pain meds into an IV which they put in. By the time I got to the ER, they were ready for me and had a room and personnel ready to treat me. Due to some preparation and good work by some first responders, the hospital ER was able to administer my first dose of Anti Venom which would neutralize the venom. For the next three days I would receive 8 rounds of Anti Venom and very strong pain meds every 4 hours. I was discharged from the hospital after a 4 day stay. I've had time to replay what happened over and over again. I have made a career as a Wetland Consultant and have performed hundreds of wetland surveys across the southeast region among miles and miles of snake habitat. While in the woods, I always make an effort to be cautious and watch my step and in a moment of haste, I dropped my guard. This was a totally avoidable happening. I should have been looking where I was putting my feet and I should have been wearing my snake gaiters. As I mentioned, I've had some time to reflect on this snake bite incident and have a few things I'd like to emphasize. 1. Always watch where you put your feet while walking in the woods. Most of the great wildlife habitat we have in Mississippi is also optimum for Timber Rattlers, Cottonmouths and Copperheads. 2. When working in the woods, always try to have somebody with you. I was very fortunate to have my dad with me. The pain from the bite is instant and grows by the minute. It was only minutes before I would have been unable to drive myself. 3. Think ahead when dealing with a snake bite. It's hard to do, but by calling ahead, the ER had 30 minutes to prepare for my arrival and had everything lined up to treat me. Minutes count when dealing with snake venom. Don't try to kill the snake as this will only waste time and cause more excitement. Actually, I learned that the CroFab anti venom is used to treat all pit vipers that occur in Mississippi. The exact identification of the snake is not necessary unless it is a Coral Snake. 4. Dress accordingly. My 4 day hospital stay will be very expensive due to the $10,000.00 per vile cost of the anti venom. Snake Boots, Snake Gaiters, or Chaps can be had for around 100$ and up. This is a no brainier. Snake Gaiters by TurtleHide are lightweight and do not get in your way. Good pair of leather boots along with some Gaiters is an easy and cheap alternative to what I've just experienced. 5. Prayers work. I've been amazed by the outpouring of prayers and kind words of support by friends and family from all over the country. They were felt everyday. I've had so many people ask, "Did you kill the snake?" No, the snake is probably still in that area. I just know to be on the look out.

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Nope. Walk in off the street with no insurance and taxpayers pay for your care. You not only get a $442k discount, but you get food, cell phones, housing, and you get to keep voting your enablers into office.

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Keep those snake boots on!Buddy of mine was bushhoggin saturday at the lease

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said it felt like someone had hit him with a hickory stick in the leg

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