How deadly are rattlesnake bites? Sixth hiker bitten in same California county

A sixth person has been bitten by a rattlesnake in Ventura County in Southern California, news reports said.

The incident is the sixth in the past 30 days, KTTV said. Two people bitten by rattlesnakes in the county have died.

In the most recent incident, a person attending a gathering near Cal State Channel Islands accidentally encountered a snake about 4 p.m. Sunday, the Los Angeles Times said.

After the person was bitten, a friend drove them to a hospital and called 911, firefighters told the publication. Paramedics met the pair en route.

The patient is listed as stable but no other information was available.

“This is an important reminder that we live and recreate in rattlesnake habitat,” Andrew Dowd, public information officer for the Ventura County Fire Department, told the Los Angeles Times. “Any time you’re outdoors, it’s important to stay aware and take precautions.”

Here’s what to know about rattlesnakes:

How lethal are rattlesnakes?

Rattlesnake bites can be venomous and deadly, but it doesn’t happen often. And your chances of survival are much greater if you seek immediate medical attention.

“Rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal with less than 1 in 600 resulting in death, and approximately 33% not containing injection of venom at all,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a fact sheet.

Other estimates say only 10% to 20% of rattlesnake bites don’t contain venom, the Los Angeles Times reported. And a victim’s likelihood of death increases if there is an allergic reaction or “if a fang reaches directly into a vein or artery.”

Even if they are not venomous, they require medical attention.

Each year, up to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the country, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported, and about five of those people die.

According to the center, deaths from bites would be higher if people did not get medical help.

This doesn’t mean these bites aren’t dangerous.

The center states that rattlesnake bites are more likely to leave long-term injuries — with 10 to 44% of people having lasting wounds, such as losing mobility at the bite site.

What should I do if I get bitten by a rattlesnake?

What to do

• Stay calm to slow the spread of the venom
• Try to remember the color and shape of the snake for later treatment
• Dial 911 and seek medical attention as soon as possible

If you can’t get to the hospital right away, lay or sit down with the bite below the level of your heart. Then wash the wound with warm, soapy water and cover it with clean, dry material.

What not to do

Here’s what not to do, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Do not pick up the snake or try to trap it
• Do not apply a tourniquet (material used to prevent blood flow)
• Do not slash the wound with a knife
• Do not suck out the venom
• Do not apply ice or soak the wound in water
• Do not drink alcohol
• Do not drink caffeine

How to avoid rattlesnakes

While most snake bites occur when the animal is handled or accidentally touched, remember you are not their prey.

“Rattlesnakes aren’t aggressive to humans unless threatened or frightened,” Stephen Nett, a Bodega Bay-based naturalist, wrote in Sonoma County Regional Park’s blog.

The snakes are typically shy around bigger animals and instead feed on mice and other rodents.

They will rattle if they sense prey and try to escape.

Let them do so.

A rattlesnake can strike as far as two-thirds of its body length. Remain at least 10 steps away from it, or as far as possible, if you encounter one on a trail.

If you do get bit, chances are the wound will be on your hand, foot or ankle, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Bee’s Hanh Truong and Brianna Taylor contributed to this story.