I received an email from a concerned reader in reaction to an account that was submitted to me by an About.com regular. Trent sent in these comments:

I can't believe you passed on such misinformation. To put it plainly Mr. Pat Moss was just damn lucky to not have not died from his ignorance. Near as I can tell the only thing he did that was correct was to get to a hospital but then even screwed that up by first not getting there immediately, and then by leaving AMA. Now here's where he went terribly wrong. Picking up a rattlesnake with a trashcan lid is extremely dangerous and he was lucky to not have been bitten a second time in the process of that. Next, to operate a vehicle after a snakebite is a very bad idea because one of the common effects of venom is distorted vision and/or temporary blindness. So he unnecessarilly put himself and others at risk , albiet unknowingly. And worst of all for him, he wasted precious time showing off his bite and the snake. The best advise given by doctors and Herpetologists alike is to keep the snakebite victim calm, if possible elevate the bite area above the heart and get to the hospital as soon as possible. Ice applied to the bite area has not shown to be of any use. At the hospital the staff can not only administer antivenen, but also keep fluids flushing through the system via intervenous injection and monitor symptoms and act accordingly should they worsen. To really show how lucky Pat was I am attaching this link which shows why it is so important to get proper medical care in the event of a venomous snake bite. And the last bit of advise I can give is to be educated. Contact local herpetological societies, zoos and hospitals to get advise on prevention as well as first aid for a snake bite. Also know what species of snakes are indigenous to your area and learn how to identify them. I pray this advise does not go unheeded because many lives may be at stake if they follow Mr. Moss's example.

The story to which he refers is this one: Snakebite! One Man's Story of a Rattler Bite, and the Remedies That Helped Him. Here's my reaction to Trent's email.

Mr. Moss' experience was an unusual one, and is certainly not closely aligned to any textbook description of how to handle a snakebite situation. Any snake expert will tell you not to handle one, especially if you don't know what kind it is or whether or not it is venomous. The link to the picture of the young man's arm after a snake bite is certainly a wake-up call, although I don't want people to panic and think that everyone who is bitten by a snake will have the same experience as that boy. His description doesn't give any explanation of why the reaction was so severe, even though he received fairly quick and expert attention. Some people are also allergic to the antivenin, although I have no idea if that played a role in that situation.

I absolutely agree with you on your concluding comments -- and I write it in various locations and in almost every email I receive about our venomous and poisonous creatures of the desert. Education is the key. Understanding what kind of dangers lurk in our deserts, what they look like, and how to react is important for both adults and children. That's why I have a quick snake primer for people who are new to the area including treating rattlesnake bites, and a photo gallery of snakes that people who live in Arizona might come across. I disagree with one of your pieces of advice. You state that the affected area should be elevated above the heart. The research I have done indicates exactly the opposite. The area of the bite should be kept below the heart, if possible.