Jamie Coots and Snake Venom

On Feb 15 2014, 42 year old Jamie Coots died of a rattlesnake snake-bite. Coots was a serpent-handling pastor and also a co-star of "Snake Salvation", a reality TV show.

Coots was a third-generation serpent handler. For two decades, he had been successfully handling all kinds of snakes and had been bitten by snakes 8 times before. In 1998, he lost a part of his finger from a bite.

How Poisonous are Snake Venoms?
Snake venom is highly poisonous. It is the modified saliva, which snakes use to immobilize and kill their prey. They also use venoms to defend against threats. Venoms usually contain zootoxins and more than 20 different compounds, mostly proteins and polypeptides.

How does snake venom act?
Not all snake venoms behave the same way. Venoms containing neurotoxic polypeptides found in Elapidae and Hydrophidae snakes often degrade neurotransmitters or lead to prolonged depolarization of the axonal membrane. This stops conduction of nervous impulses. Cardiotoxic venoms exhibit similar effects on the tissues of the heart. Some neurotoxins called Crotalid neurotoxins act as a blocking agent at the neuro-muscular junction, thereby inhibiting a person’s ability to control his/her movements. Chemicals contained in the venom also make the red blood cells rupture and release their contents outside - a condition known as Hemolysis which can lead to cell death.

What to do if you get bitten by a snake?
While it sounds a bit silly or illogical, please see if you can remember the appearance of the snake. Finding the species of snake that bit you will make the physician narrow down on the type of toxin that has gone inside your body and makes treatment easier and more effective. You may also:

• Keep the bitten part in functional position and also below your heart level as this minimizes the blood returning to heart and other organs
• Remain as still as possible
• Cover the wound loosely with a bandage

Never attempt to cut the wound and suck the venom out or apply something on the wound. Also, do not eat or drink anything, unless specifically directed by a physician. Get yourself helped to the nearest hospital.