As Sweetwater celebrates the festivities of the 54th Annual
World’s Largest Rattlesnake Round-up, local snakes will also
begin to emerge from winter hibernation. Rolling Plains Memorial
Hospital (RPMH) urges the community to know how to respond to
snakebites. Many different types of snakes can be found in Nolan
County; some with poisonous venom that can have debilitating or
even deadly consequences. Treatment of snakebites can be
extremely costly. According to Dr. Robert Eaker, emergency
department medical director at RPMH, each vial of anti-venom
costs approximately $5,000. Depending on the severity of the
wound and type of snake, eight to 10 vials are needed for
treatment. Many times, treatment requires double the number of
vials. Sometimes, snakebites occur so quickly that victims do
not know what hit them. Signs and symptoms may vary, but most
typically include: a pair of puncture marks at the center of the
wound; redness, swelling and severe pain around the bite;
nausea, increased sweating, and labored b