Hikers and homeowners should be on the lookout for snakes.
Don’t play with the snake. As silly as it sounds one of the most common causes of rattlesnake bite is someone who tries to agitate or play with the snake.
Watch where you walk at night. When going outside at night, always use a flashlight and actively look for snakes. They will look motionless, like a rag or other nondescript item on the ground. All you have to do is watch where you step. Do this in your back yard in unlighted areas.
Watch where you put your hands! One of the most common bites happens when a person is gardening. Always rustle around with a stick and look prior to picking tomatoes or trimming low lying shrubs. Rattlesnakes don’t always rattle before striking—so no matter what – watch where you put your hands!
What to do...
If bitten by a rattlesnake, DO NOT use ice to cool the bite.
If bitten by a rattlesnake, DO NOT cut open the wound and try to suck out the venom.
If bitten by a rattlesnake, DO NOT use a tourniquet. This will cut off blood flow and the limb may be lost.
Avoid rattlesnakes altogether. If you see one, don’t try to get closer to it or catch it.
Keep your hands and feet away from areas where you cannot see, like between rocks or in tall grass where rattlesnakes like to rest