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Rattlesnake Bite Victim Back Home, Tells Her Story
September 9, 2014
A Walnut Hill woman returned home Monday afternoon, two days after being bitten by a pygmy rattlesnake.
Saturday morning, Sandy Marsh was outside her home on Highway 97A. She was picking weeds that were popping through the rocks in her well manicured lawn. She reached under a bench to pull a small weed, and that’s when she was bitten on a finger by the poisonous snake.
“The bite was really like a little prick,” she said, sitting back on the bench Monday afternoon. “But I knew what had happened when I saw the snake. My first thought was really my dogs. So I shooed the dogs away and grabbed a shovel and killed the snake. I wanted to protect the dogs, and I knew that would want to know what kind of snake it was for the anti-venom.”
Marsh said she remained calm — a key point she said — and called 911. She told the 911 operator that she was bitten by a pygmy rattler and she was 40 miles from Pensacola.
“The person at 911 told me to put my arm down. It’s good that she said that, because I always thought you were suppose to put your arm up. She (the 911 dispatcher) was really great, telling me that you must keep it below the heart.”
Within moments of her 911 call, the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and LifeFlight were on their way to her remote home.
In the meantime, Marsh tried unsuccessfully to call her husband; he was in an area with no cellular service. “He was up to his neck in weeds at the hunting camp in Alabama, and I was the one here in the yard being bitten by a snake. That was ironic.”
As paramedics loaded her into LifeFlight, Marsh was busy snapping cell phone photos of the helicopter and the view out the windows.
“I really did not realize the seriousness of it all until later, about half an hour later, when my arm began to swell.” Lines on her arm marked the progression of the swelling from the snake venom.
“When the swelling got to here,” she said, pointing at a spot nearing her elbow, “they decided to give me the antivenom. That was rough, much rougher than the snake bite itself. I was so nauseous and pouring sweat.” She ended up with four doses of the antivenom.
Marsh said she learned several important things during her experience –”Keep you cell phone charged. I was trying to take pictures and call my husband but my battery was dying.” Also, she said, wear gloves when working outside.
There’s still no word of any possible lasting effects from the snakebite. For now, Marsh said she’s glad to be recovered enough to return home from intensive care.
“Thank God I had plenty of people praying for me,” she said. “I keep a positive attitude because of them, and I think that really helped save my life.”
Pictured top: Pygmy rattlesnake bite victim Sandy Marsh returned home to Walnut Hill Monday. Pictured top inset: Marsh shows how she was bitten as she pulled a weed from under a bench. Pictured middle inset: Lines on Marsh’s arm Monday continued to show the progression of swelling on her arm. Pictured bottom inset: The pygmy rattlesnake the bit Marsh was just a few inches long. Pictured below: Marsh’s swollen hand and the snake in a small cup shortly after she arrived at Baptist Hospital via LifeFlight. Pictured bottom: Marsh was airlifted from her Walnut Hill home. NorthEScambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
16 Responses to “Rattlesnake Bite Victim Back Home, Tells Her Story”
Thanks everyone it’s crazy that all is great with me it was scary, but I went back to work . I will be watching a lot closer now ( if my husband will let me out) he’s been cut everything way back
WoW! My husband and I have killed 2 of these in our yard this year. We live off of hwy 113 in Flomaton. The last one killed was right outside our patio door and he stomped it to death!
I will definitely be watching when I walk my small dogs.
Thankful God had his hand on you Sandy.
We live in Flomaton and also in the country with some acreage. My husband killed one of these just 2wks ago in our yard, he almost didn’t see it.
My daddy always told us, “watch where you put your feet”, & to this day I still do!!
Be careful out there folks, & God bless!!
Great story of what to do and not do. Thanks for sharing it Sandy. I live in the woods in Molino and have killed over 200 of these snakes plus 32 diamond backs, 6 coral snakes, 2 copperheads and 10 cottonmouths on my property over the 32 years we have owned the acreage. We are in their habitat and just have to be very careful. Your advice is excellent. Thank The Lord for the answered prayers and your progress in recovery.
Very glad the lady made a good recovery. This may not be the time for this warning but I met a lady in Molino several years ago that had a big fern on her porch and took it in for the winter not knowing one of these little monsters had bedded down in it. While she was asleep it crawled out and got on the bed with her and bit her. She went to work and got sick. They took her to the hospital and determined what it was and she was treated and made a full recovery. Her husband found the little critter and killed it but she refused to re-enter her home till it was gone. Just a little something to think about before we bring our plants in for the winter Wishing good luck and health to Sandy.
Glad you r ok Ms. Sandy.
>>William….LOL….the proper term is antivenin…..just a little FYI
Medically, yes. In common language, either is acceptable.
William….LOL….the proper term is antivenin…..just a little FYI
Sure glad Mrs. Marsh is ok!
Such a small snake. I’ve never seen 1 of those before. So glad she is doing better.
So glad everything turned out good.
Thank you for sharing your story. So thankful you are of. Amazing how reaching for a weed can change the whole day. Thanks to northescambia.com for reporting the news!
I’m glad she had the composure to think and react rationally instead of going into a panic mode. Maybe training or just a good head. SANDY MARSH sounds like an earth condition like I named our daughter MISTY DAWN from the weather at that time of the morning when she was born, I realize the MARSH came from getting married but has anyone else compiled that. Hope you continue doing well. I heard there is a commonly known powder you can distribute in areas to keep snakes away. Might want to consider.
Crazy how such a little jerk can be so much trouble. Snakes, spiders, etc…gotta love the critters that populate our Southern Forests. Glad you’re ok, and be careful, folks!
-DV
Overall a wonderful story with a wonderful ending..
So thankful you are better!! Praise God!! I know you are happy to be home!
Good informative story. Happy ending. Nice Rock Garden.