Poll of the Day > You're an EMT and someone got bit by a venomous snake...

(+) Yeah! (+)

Do you save them? If you do you'll get in trouble at work since only "wilderness paramedics" are allowed to administer antivenoms

Lokarin posted...

Do you save them? If you do you'll get in trouble at work since only "wilderness paramedics" are allowed to administer antivenoms

Is this some sort of weird Canadian thing? Pretty sure most EMT's aren't wandering around with a selection of snake antivenoms...at least outside Australia.

EMT's don't carry antivenin because it requires refrigeration. They also risk severe anaphylaxis, and a specific antivenin is required depending on species.

There is research into the possible use of neostigmine to treat envenomation by neurotoxic species. Neostigmine, a derivative of physostigmine, increases acetylcholine levels, which counteracts the paralyzing effect of venom. Neostigmine must be injected, but otherwise does not require special storage, other than keeping it at room temperature (15-30C). There are so many wavy red lines in that paragraph; thanks Firefox.

rjsilverthorn posted...

Is this some sort of weird Canadian thing? Pretty sure most EMT's aren't wandering around with a selection of snake antivenoms...at least outside Australia.

The victim had the antivenom on them, but was unable to administer it themselves due to paralysis... from the venom

I save them if it's possible. Seems like that'd be better than letting someone die.