77
votes
Accepted
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
Eventually some part of your brain is going to start thinking, "Holy (expletive), Rattlesnake! I'm gonna loose an extremity! I'm gonna die! What's going to happen to my family? Why did I even come ...
22
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
Practice.
I watched my dad nearly slice his thumb off while cutting wood, in the middle of nowhere in France, with a meat cleaver when I was about 10. He turned to me and said 'Go to your mum, ask ...
20
votes
Accepted
Does two puncture wounds mean venomous snake?
I'd suggest being very careful with information about venomous snakes on the internet. The reason is the USA's traditional preponderance on that medium (particularly the English-speaking portion of it)...
12
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
Know what to do
Make an effort to know how to deal with the risks of <activity>
The most important thing I learn when I attend first aid courses is not the treatment of the injury, but knowing ...
9
votes
Accepted
Can a coyote eat a rattlesnake without getting poisoned?
What you have here is a language problem - a poison is a toxin which you ingest/breath in/absorb through skin, a venom is a toxin that is injected (e.g. bee sting) or added through wounding (many ...
7
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
Meditation has been mentioned, let me expand on it.
There are certain techniques of meditation (namely Vipassana) which are in no way mystic or magical, but work quite like a sort of maintenance for ...
6
votes
Accepted
Do bull snakes keep rattlesnakes away?
Here is a quote from Wikipedia:
The idea that bullsnakes occasionally eat rattlesnakes is sometimes given as a reason for humans not to harm bullsnakes when encountering them in the wild, although ...
4
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
Returning to a calm state is aided by knowing what to do for a given event. Knowing the actions required to deal with any situation allows the brain to focus on acting on those steps vice panicking. ...
4
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
Along the lines of existing answers to breathe or meditate, I prefer "The Litany Against Fear". Breathing alone does not divert the mind for long, so it's necessary to add something else.
When ...
4
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
I don't know if this helps, but when I have time to daydream I often intentionally run through awful situations in my mind, embracing as much anxiety as possible (it's a curse) and imagining a good ...
4
votes
When will a rattlesnake strike?
This looks like a Prairie Rattler. I'm guessing you're in New Mexico or Arizona? These are usually very docile animals; they don't want trouble. I have had a couple that were tame enough that I ...
4
votes
Does two puncture wounds mean venomous snake?
According to this article: How to identify and treat snake bites - yes this does seem to be something which some people state as accurate.
Venomous snakes have two fangs that deliver venom when ...
4
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
There are two things you can focus on depending on your immediate needs.
Focus on small things to do
All I have to do is make a 911 call
All I have to do is restrict blood flow
All I have to do is ...
4
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
Like others have said in their answers, give yourself something to do, and mentally rehearse it before you go into an area with danger of snakes. As for what to do specifically, here's what we learned ...
3
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
There are lots of answers here and I'm reluctant to add one more, but after reading through them they all seem to focus on breathing and meditation. I'd like to add some other things to this with a ...
2
votes
Do bull snakes keep rattlesnakes away?
Interestingly, Bull snakes developed an immunity to Rattlesnake venom. Evolutionary pressures would be the most likely reason for that immunity. Where did that pressure come from?
This article in the ...
2
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
Ignorance often breeds (uncontrollable and unnecessary) fear. It doesn't take much to learn about the significant dangers (and how to deal with them) in an area you will visit.
Facts such as (in ...
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