Heavy Rains Bring Mosquitoes

 Updated 3/2017-- all links removed as many are no longer active and it's easier than checking each one.

Arkansas, like many other parts of the country, has had lots of rain over the last month.  Many areas have suffered flooding.  The farmers have had difficulty getting their crops planted.  All this heavy rain is perfect for one thing --  mosquitoes to lay their eggs and breed.

So while the farmers may suffer a reduced crop, there will most likely be an explosion in the population of the mosquitoes in the next few weeks.  The increase in mosquitoes may mean an increase in the diseases they carry, like West Nile.

Mosquito Control authorities advise residents to make sure there isn't any standing water near their homes. If there is something in the yard that collects water,  empty it every time it rains.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of mosquito repellents with DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 as the active ingredient.  DEET and Picaridin are characterized as “conventional repellents” and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, PMD, and IR3535 as “biopesticide repellents”, which are derived from natural materials.  For more information on repellent active ingredients go here.

When using insect repellents keep these precautions in mind:

• Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label.) Do not use repellents under clothing.
• Never use repellents over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
• Do not apply to eyes or mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays, do not spray directly on face—spray on hands first and then apply to face.
• Do not allow children to handle the product. When using on children, apply to your own hands first and then put it on the child. You may not want to apply to children’s hands.
• Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Heavy application and saturation are generally unnecessary for effectiveness. If biting insects do not respond to a thin film of repellent, then apply a bit more.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it again. (This precaution may vary with different repellents—check the product label.)
• If you or your child get a rash or other bad reaction from an insect repellent, stop using the repellent, wash the repellent off with mild soap and water, and call a local poison control center for further guidance. If you go to a doctor because of the repellent, take the repellent with you to show the doctor.

Note  the label for products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus specifies that they should not to be used on children under the age of three years. Other than those listed above, EPA does not recommend any additional precautions for using registered repellents on children or on pregnant or lactating women,. For additional information regarding the use of repellent on children, please see CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions about Repellent Use.

Repost -- Poison Ivy Warning

 Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links removed as many are no longer active and it's easier than checking each one.

This is a repost of last year’s “poison ivy warning” with a few changes.  Enjoy your walks and play time outdoors, but be careful.

I love to walk in the woods with my dog. I am lucky to have a neighbor who has a trail through her woods around her pond that she encourages us to use. This time of year I have to watch out for poison ivy. In the picture here you can see the poison ivy (leaves of three) intermingled with some Virginia Creeper (five leaves). I find both very pretty.

If you are like me, then you may wish to check out this product, Zanfel, that Dr Paul Auerbach wrote about recently.

Zanfel™ is a soap mixture of ethoxylate and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate surfactants. When "activated" (worked into a paste that can be spread effectively on the skin), the soap is able to bind urushiol and thus allow it to be removed from the skin by rinsing.
Zanfel™ is unique with respect to poison ivy/oak/sumac remedies in that it is supposed to remove resin from the skin after the rash has appeared. In one study, this effect was present even at 144 hours post exposure. However, it seems logical that at some point post exposure, urushiol is no longer present in the skin and that the allergic contact dermatitis (manifested as redness, itching, swelling, and blisters), would not be lessened by Zanfel™, unless it has some direct anti-inflammatory properties

From the comment section comes this helpful suggestion via White Coat

One of the other things that helps to some degree is "Ivy Block" - it allegedly keeps the urushiol from binding to the skin.  http://www.ivyblock.com/ivyblock.php
Also, TechNu is reported to work as well as Zanfel, but is significantly less expensive.  http://www.teclabsinc.com/products.cfm?id=1F5604C8-9D05-4675-56129F6D83DF2417§ion=1

Also, check out the post he did “Poison Ivy – Son of an Itch”

REFERENCE

Leaves of Three, Let Them Be: If Only It Were That Easy; Medscape Article, May 28, 2004; Patricia L Jackson Allen, MS, RN, PNP, FAAN

Watch Out for Snakes

Updated 3/2017-- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one. 

This pass Friday evening, my dog Rusty woke up from his sleep and jump up startled. He had been sleeping in the doorway of the bedroom / living room. No bark. No yelp. Just a quick move. I got up to see what had startled him and was surprised to find a snake in my house! Here’s the picture I uploaded to twitpic.

This started quite a conversation on twitter as we tried to identify the snake. Robin (Survive the Journey) finally made the definitive identification-- western rat snake

staticnrg@rlbates http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/forum/post/19093/#p19093 cousin to the corn snake... check it out.

Two weeks ago I had found this snake while raking the yard. I identified it as a western worm snake. It didn’t bother me nearly as much, as it was not inside my home.

As the weather warms, it is time once again to watch out for snakes. Most (like the two above) are non-poisonous, but others aren’t. If you are bitten by a snake, here are a few tips from a review article at Medscape (Bites and Stings: Snake Bites).

First Aid in the field (or home) consists of:

• Preventing systemic absorption of the toxin which may be done with compressive dressings and immobilization of the bitten extremity.
• If signs of envenomation begin to occur, a constriction band to impede lymphatic flow should be placed on the extremity, proximal to the bite. Transport to a hospital should take place immediately.
• The site should be wiped off and cleaned. The use of field first-aid methods such as incision and suction, tourniquets, and cryotherapy has been associated with a threefold increase in the likelihood of the need for surgical intervention.
• Although popular belief has it that snakebites kill within minutes, in fact, the toxicity from snake venom usually does not even begin to affect the body for several hours. In one review, 64% of deaths from snakebite occurred between 6 and 48 hours after the patient was bitten.

Other posts
Snake Bites (July 17, 2008)

Tick Prevention

I wanted to share a tip with you on getting rid of the tick you find crawling on yourself. My husband taught me this. When you see the tick or have pulled it off, get a piece of Scotch tape and apply it to the tick. You can then place the tick into the trash without fear of dropping it onto your floor. It will also get rid of the need to flush the tick down the toilet, and thus save water.

Now here is the post on ticks I did almost a year ago with a small addition.

Having been outside more lately, as the weather has gotten so much nicer I have also noticed more ticks. I believe that prevention in medicine is to the act of doing something (change diet, not smoke, use condoms, etc) to avoid the need for treatment of a disease (heart disease, emphysema, HIV). So I would encourage all or you to take the proper steps to prevent Lyme's Disease and avoid the need for treatment. The "preventive" steps to take are to either avoided the tick-invested area or used a DEET or permethrin-based tick repellent and then doing a body check for ticks that same evening.

• According to the Center for Disease Control it takes 36-48 hrs for transmission of B.burgdorferi or B. microti to occur from an attached tick and not all ticks are infected. Therefore, a tick bite does not necessarily mean a person will get infected. Prompt removal of the attached tick will reduce the chance of infection.
• Tick paralysis is rare. One reason the condition is so unusual is that the tick must be attached for five days before symptoms develop. So do a daily tick check of yourself and your children if you live or visit an area that has ticks. (reference below) [This section added as well as the references.]

I walk my dogs daily in the woods nearby. My dogs are protected with Frontline. I use Deep-Woods Off and often wish I could use Frontline. That would be so much simpler, apply once monthly. Don't forget the sunscreen and wide-brimmed hat.

Protect yourself, then get outside and enjoy life!

REFERENCE

Six Case Studies in Potentially Life-Threatening Weakness; Emergency Medicine, May 2008, pp 25-30; Scott C Sherman MD

Poison Ivy Warning

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links removed as many are no longer active and it's easier than checking each one.

I love to walk in the woods with my dog. I am lucky to have a neighbor who has a trail through her woods around her pond that she encourages us to use. This time of year I have to watch out for poison ivy. In the picture here you can see the poison ivy (leaves of three) intermingled with some Virginia Creeper (five leaves). I find both very pretty.

If you are like me, then you may wish to check out this product, Zanfel, that Dr Paul Auerbach wrote about recently.

Zanfel™ is a soap mixture of ethoxylate and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate surfactants. When "activated" (worked into a paste that can be spread effectively on the skin), the soap is able to bind urushiol and thus allow it to be removed from the skin by rinsing.
Zanfel™ is unique with respect to poison ivy/oak/sumac remedies in that it is supposed to remove resin from the skin after the rash has appeared. In one study, this effect was present even at 144 hours post exposure. However, it seems logical that at some point post exposure, urushiol is no longer present in the skin and that the allergic contact dermatitis (manifested as redness, itching, swelling, and blisters), would not be lessened by Zanfel™, unless it has some direct anti-inflammatory properties

REFERENCE
Leaves of Three, Let Them Be: If Only It Were That Easy; Medscape Article, May 28, 2004; Patricia L Jackson Allen, MS, RN, PNP, FAAN

Spring & Gardening

Updated 3/2017-- all links removed as many are no longer active and it's easier than checking each one.

I don't have the right kind of soil for a garden. Too many crystal rocks. Still I love spring and the flowers it brings. Here's a picture of one of my clematis plants. It's a Ramona.

TBTAM seems to have a rooftop garden and Dr Smak has some lovely flowers. If you are one of those gardeners who grow from seeds, then you may want to check out this post on "How to Make Newspaper Seedling Pots" (photo from her post). Head on over to Patricia's website (a wonderful Arkansas quilter/teacher) if you are interested. The post has lots of photos that make the instructions very clear. Great way to recycle and be green.

And if you just need some inspiration check out the website for the Chelsea Garden Show. Wow!!! They have even shared some detailed planting plans from some of this year's garden designers. Makes me want to have several truck loads of good soil hauled into my yard. Maybe in the next few years I'll do it.

Toad Suck Festival

 Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links removed as many no longer active.

There is a small community in Arkansas that sits on the Arkansas River named Toad Suck. It is near Conway. In 1982, Conway began holding a festival to raise money for scholarships to help local students further their education. Over the years the festival has raised over $500,000 for local students to attend Central Baptist College, Hendrix College, University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, and the University of Central Arkansas. CBC, Hendrix, and UCA are all colleges located in Conway, Arkansas. The festival is the first weekend of May (this year May 2-4th).

What does "Toad Suck" mean anyway?

Well, The answer is quite simple...
Long ago, steamboats traveled the Arkansas River when the water was at the right depth. When it wasn't, the captains and their crew tied up to wait where the Toad Suck Lock and Dam now spans the river. While they waited, they refreshed themselves at the local tavern there, to the dismay of the folks living nearby, who said: "They suck on the bottle 'til they swell up like toads." Hence, the name Toad Suck. The tavern is long gone, but the legend and fun live on at Toad Suck Daze.

The festival has grown to include multiple sports events: basketball, golf, 5K/10K, bicycling, and softball. There are free music concerts. This year some of the bands featured are: Hwy 5, Riverbilly, Blake Shelton , Ben Coulter, Culpepper Mountain Band, FreeVerse, KickBack, The Blue Meanies, Shaw Blades .

 

Each year they sell T-shirts, lots of food and craft vendors, and there are toad races. This year as in the past few years there has been some difficulty finding the toads (don't confuse them with frogs). The article below may help explain why the numbers are decreasing.

There is a nice article on Amphibians (frogs, salamanders, and others) slipping into oblivion in Defenders (a conservation magazine of Defenders of Wildlife). You can read it online here. The photo below is of a female marsupial frog and her offspring and is from the article. The article states that amphibians are the most threatened group of animals in the world.

Lawn Mower Safety

 Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links removed as many no longer active as it was easier than checking each one.

Last weekend I got our lawn mower out. The "weeds" more than the grass had grown high enough to need mowing. I put gas in, changed the air filter, but could not get the spark plug changed. It would not budge. Being one of those independent females, having to wait for my husband (who was out of town) to get home and do the lawn mower maintenance for me is frustrating. (Of course, it would have been nice for him to do it before he went out of town.) My father-in-law suggested I "soak" it with WD-40 overnight. It worked. So Thursday I got the spark plug changed and the mower started! The yard is mowed.

So in preparation of the coming mowing season, lets try to be safe this year. The power lawn mower is considered one of the most dangerous tools around the home. Did you know that lawn mower injuries alone cost the nation approximately $475 million annually in health care costs? Did you know that nearly 10,000 children in America are injured each year as the result of a lawn mower accident? Did you know that lawnmower injuries account for a large percentage of accidental partial or complete finger/toe amputations?

Lawn mower injuries include deep cuts, loss of fingers and toes, broken and dislocated bones, burns, and eye and other injuries. Some injuries are very serious. Both users of mowers and those who are nearby can be hurt.

Safety Tips

• Before operating equipment, familiarize yourself with it and make sure it is in good working order.
• Heed the manufacturer precautions.
• Be sober (i.e., don't drink).
• Use lawn mowers with guards and a cutoff switch. Never disconnect the cutoff switch.
• Exert extreme caution on slopes and never mow when the ground is damp.
• Do not allow other people, and particularly children, in the area when operating a lawn mower.
• Never allow children to ride on mowers.
• Never go barefoot while mowing. Sandals and flip-flops are no better than being barefoot.
• Wear protective eye gear, hand gear and footwear such as goggles, gloves and heavy rubber sole boots. (Hiking shoes with double wall leather and cleats are good. Golf shoes are even better.)
• Pick up toys, tree limbs, rocks, etc from the yard. Any of these things can become potential projectiles.
• Fill the gas tank while the engine is off. Never smoke when filling the gas tank.
• When a lawn mower cuts off, be extra careful in removing any objects from the blade. Always make sure the engine is off and the mower blade has completely stopped rotating before attempting to remove debris from the mower or make adjustments. It is best to disconnect the spark plug so the mower can't start while near the blade.
• Do not leave a lawnmower unattended when it is running. If you must walk away from the machine, shut off the engine.

REFERENCES
Preventing Lawn Mower Injuries; American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
Lawn Mower Safety Could Save Life and Limb This Summer; University of Michigan Health System; June 2, 2003
Lawn Mower Safety; American Academy of Pediatrics
Snowblower and Lawnmower Injuries; American Society for Surgery of the Hand
Lawn Mower Safety Tips; Briggs and Stratton
Lawn mower-related injuries to children; J Trauma. 2005; 59(3):724-8; Abstract

Five Feet High and Rising

Updated 3/2017-- video and all links removed as many no longer active as it was easier than checking each one.

Due to the recent rains, there has been some serious flooding around the country. Here in Arkansas, the Black River crested on Thursday at 29.7 ft, 15.7 ft above flood stage at Black Rock. The White River was expected to crest today at 27 ft, 12 ft above flood stage at Batesville; and at 32 ft, 16 ft above flood stage at Newport.

You may recall that Johnny Cash was from Arkansas. This song (Three Feet High and Rising) of his seems appropriate. Enjoy (hopefully on dry land).

There is an amazing gallery of photos here that includes the one below of all the cows seeking high ground.

Spring is Here--Sun Protection Reminder

I first posted this last May, but it never hurts to be reminded.

Patients (& friends) often ask me which sunscreen they should use. Often this is more for skin aging protection than sunburn protection. The answer is the same. The best sunscreen is the one they will use. It has to "feel" good to them--not be too greasy, not have the wrong scent, be the right consistency (lotion vs cream). It will not matter if it is SPF 15 or 3o if it never gets used. The next thing I tell them is to use it daily, all year around, especially on the face and neck. If they are in the habit of applying sunscreen to their face daily (even on overcast days), it won't be forgotten.

For a more scientific answer, you need both UVA and UVB protection. It is the UVA rays that are most responsible for wrinkling and aging the skin. It is the UVB rays that are the most responsible for the sunburn. The best sunscreen is at least an SPF 15 and has a sunblock component also. The SPF rating reflects the product's ability to screen or block UVB rays only. SPF 15 blocks approximately 93 percent of all incoming UVB rays. SPF 30 blocks 97 percent; and SPF 50 blocks 99 percent. To protect against the UVA rays, the product needs to have avobenzone (Parsol 1789), ecamsule (Mexoryl), titanium dioxide, or micro-zinc oxide.

• Apply the sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outside.
• Use enough. To ensure that you get the full SPF of a sunscreen, you need to apply 1 oz – about a shot glass full.
• Reapply after getting out of the water or toweling off. Even "water-proof" sunscreens are not usually "towel-proof".
• Reapply every two hours when outside at a beach, etc. for adequate protection.
• Use even on a cloudy day. Up to 40 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth on a completely cloudy day.
• Shield your eyes with UV-blocking sunglasses. Squinting caused wrinkles around the eyes. The UV rays can cause cataracts.
• Wear a wide-brim hat to help protect your head & neck.
• Don't forget to apply lip balm with SPF 15 or higher.

The Skin Cancer Foundation grants its Seal of Recommendation to products that meet the Foundation's criteria for effective UV sun protection products. If you use a product make especially for the face (ie MD Forte Total Protector SPF 30 or Clinique's Super City Block Oil Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25) it will be less likely to cause skin irritation or acne outbreak with daily use. So spend more money on the face and then if you need to save money, do so on the body sunscreen (ie NO-AD SPF 30 Sport Ultra Block Lotion, Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen SPF 45).

Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight

 Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links removed as many are no longer active and it's easier than checking each one.

There will be a total eclipse of the moon tonight, February 20. If we don't get rain here in central Arkansas, we should have a good view. Alas, they're calling for cloudy skies here.

"In the Americas, the Atlantic, Europe and Africa, people have a ringside seat to tonight’s total eclipse. But in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the eclipse occurs during daylight hours, when the eclipsed moon will be beneath the horizon as seen from that part of the world.

The moon is totally submerged in Earth’s shadow from 3:01 to 3:51 Universal Time Thursday morning, February 21. For North America, that means the total lunar eclipse is Wednesday evening, from 9:01 to 9:51 p.m. Central Time.

The total lunar eclipse lasts for some 50 minutes, though the moon is partially eclipsed for over an hour before and after the central totality. The eclipse lasts almost 3 and 1/2 hours from start to finish. The moon can pass through Earth’s shadow only when it’s directly opposite the sun in Earth’s sky in the constellation Leo." -- Earth & Sky

Here is a great explanation and great photos of lunar eclipse at MrEclipse.com
Here's the time line of the eclipse for where I live (from NASA).

Mushrooms

Updated 3/2017-- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active.

On my walk with my dog Rusty this morning, I ran across this decaying log just covered in mushrooms. It's the first log I've ever seen like this. I just want to share this amazing site!

I don't even want to begin to "educate" you as to which wild mushrooms are edible, but I think I did identify these. They look like the picture found here (ID 50). If so they are :

"This mushroom, almost certainly, is Hypholoma fasciculae (the Sulfur Tuft). It is also known as the Clustered Woodlover, and sometimes by Naematoloma fasciculare. It has features as seen in the picture, plus: it's cap is not sticky or slimy. the gills are yellow to greenish-yellow while young and become gray or purplish-black with age, thin stalk (yellow), spores are a deep dark purple/gray/brown and is growing from wood (buried or otherwise). THIS SPECIES IS POISONOUS- do not eat. There is a similar species, but grows only on conifers (Hypholoma capnoides) and it is edible. However, do not eat either of these mushrooms without a thorough knowledge of mushroom identification and practice doing so with the supervision of an experienced mycologist/mushroom hunter."

References

Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms--MCD online

Wild Mushrooms--Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet

Culture Filled Weekend

This past weekend my husband and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. We went to the Arkansas Blues &Heritage Festival on Saturday in Helena, Arkansas. I'm not a Blues aficionado, but I did enjoy it. Here are a few pictures.

Man sit up on street.
Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges

Then on Sunday, we went down to the Little Rock River Market to an outdoor Sculptor Exhibit. Wow! Some lovely pieces. Here are just a few.

"Mayura" by Bruce Gueswel

"Grief" by Edward Fleming

piece by Kevin Kresse of Little Rock, AR

"High Four" by Lousie Peterson

Hummingbirds

I have been enjoying the hummingbirds this weekend. There have been up to a dozen at the feeders at times, mostly 4-6. I have refilled the feeders daily, as they empty them. I have had difficulty getting any decent photos of them. This is one (it's okay, not great). My brothers tell me that I should not keep my feeders out after Labor Day, but I feel like the birds know when to migrate and that they need the nourishment along the way.

The Audubon Society agrees: "Put up hummingbird feeders to provide sugar water as supplemental food, which is especially critical during the fall and winter, when the birds are migrating."

Flowers are the natural way to attract hummingbirds to your yard, but I am not a good enough gardener to have flowers this late in the season. So I need to use a man-made feeders filled with a mixture of water and ordinary table sugar (sucrose). Sugar, whether from a flower or a feeder, is essential for a hummingbird's diet. It provides the quick fuel for flight that it needs during waking hours; it is not "junk food." Human metabolism is not comparable to hummingbird metabolism (don't I wish it were)! Hummingbirds also eat insects and tiny spiders to provide protein for their diet (well, I'd rather have a steak for protein than spider).

A good formula for hummingbird food: 4 parts water to 1 part sugar (so 1/4 cup sugar to 1 cup water). The water should not be distilled, just use tap water. The sugar should be white table sugar. Do not use artificial colors (red dye does NOT help attract hummingbirds) or other additives. Never use honey or artificial sweeteners, for to do so may kill the birds. The ingredients can be mixed using cold water.

Any mixture of sugar and water will ferment and can host the growth of mold spores and/or bacteria. Because of this, the mixture must be discarded regularly (if not eaten by the hummingbirds) to avoid these problems. In moderate temperatures, such as 60-85 degrees F. (15-30 degrees C.) a mixture should last about 3 days. It will need to be changed more frequently at higher temperatures and less often at cooler temperatures. Regardless of the mixture's age, discard it immediately if you see cloudiness or you see mold growing in the feeder. Always clean a feeder thoroughly before refilling; do not "top off" a feeder which is low in mixture. Clean with warm water and detergent, and rinse very thoroughly.

Green Anole Lizard

I noticed this little "guy" while watering my bushes (need rain) this afternoon.  My little lizard did not show his dewlap.

Sunday Morning Walk

 Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active.

I had a nice Sunday morning walk with my dogs. We saw two box turtles. The Arkansas Natural Heritage Department is conducting a "citizen survey" of box turtles. There is concern that these turtles are quietly disappearing from the landscapes across the country. Results from studies across the US suggest that box turtles are becoming less common. They want to develop conservation strategies for the turtles before they become rare. So they have asked the citizen of Arkansas (and any visiting tourist) to help them "gather empirical data will we be able to understand the true status and trends of these endearing species".

Snake in the Yard

 Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active.

I found this under my patio table in the backyard yesterday. Yikes! I really don't like snakes, but can deal with them when necessary. Fortunately, my husband was home. So he dealt with the snake (It's a good snake, says he.) while I took the dogs for a walk. It turns out he was right. The snake is a Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos). In Arkansas, our poisionous snakes include Copperhead / Pigmy Rattlesnake, Cottonmouth, Timber Rattlesnake / Coral Snake, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. Comparative risks tables place the annual death from drownings at more than 6,000 and the annual deaths from snake bites at 5.5.

There is a very nice review article of snake bites (Bites and Stings: Snake Bites) at Medscape. First Aid in the field (or home) consists of:

1. Preventing systemic absorption of the toxin which may be done with compressive dressings and immobilization of the bitten extremity.


2. If signs of envenomation begin to occur, a constriction band to impede lymphatic flow should be placed on the extremity, proximal to the bite. Transport to a hospital should take place immediately.


3. The site should be wiped off and cleaned. The use of field first-aid methods such as incision and suction, tourniquets, and cryotherapy has been associated with a threefold increase in the likelihood of the need for surgical intervention.


4. Although popular belief has it that snakebites kill within minutes, in fact, the toxicity from snake venom usually does not even begin to affect the body for several hours. In one review, 64% of deaths from snakebite occurred between 6 and 48 hours after the patient was bitten.

I have never in my years of practice had to deal with a snake bite, but have a healthy fear of cotton mouths and copper heads. I know that snakes may be an important part of our environment, but I still don't like snakes.

Have a safe summer enjoying the outdoors!