5 minute read
SNAKEBITE? RANDOLPH SCOTT CAN’T HELP
WRITER: FRED HILTON // PHOTO ILLUSTRATOR: ANTHONY CASTO
As 12-year-olds, my buddies and I would troop down to the local theater every Saturday to see the matinee, which consisted of two movies, a newsreel, two cartoons and the latest Superman serial.
The cost for admission was 12 cents and, yes, that makes me older than dirt.
The matinee always included at least one cowboy movie. In most of the westerns, some nice cowboy would be bitten by a monstrous, nasty-looking rattlesnake. The victim would writhe in pain and appear to be getting very close to Boot Hill. Then the cowboy hero — usually played by Randolph Scott — would spring into action. He’d whip out his trusty Bowie knife, carve a neat “X” right below the wound, suck out the venom-infested blood and spit it on the sagebrush. The snake-bitten cowpoke would miraculously recover, presumably to live happily ever after.
I never thought I’d need Randolph Scott’s venom-removal skills until I moved to Florida, where alligators and poisonous snakes play rock-paper-scissors to see who gets to gobble up the next tourist. Scary signs at rest stops warn of poisonous snakes and, if you’re older than dirt, you never met a rest stop you didn’t like.
Does the venom-sucking trick really work? The definitive word on dealing with poisonous snake bites is “Bites of Venomous Snakes,” written by three physicians and published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. One of the three, Dr. Robert A. Barish, said “the evidence suggests that cutting and sucking, or applying a tourniquet or ice, does nothing to help the victim.” Dr. Barish is an emergency room physician and associate dean of clinical affairs at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “Although these outdated measures are still widely acclaimed by the general public, they may do more harm than good.”
So what do you do if someone is bitten by a poisonous snake?
“Go immediately to the hospital,” says the website of Reptile Gardens in South Dakota. “Antivenom is the only effective treatment available for treating snakebites.”
The best thing for snake bite is your cell phone: call 911 immediately.
Sucking the venom from a wound may actually make things worse. The Pennsylvania State University website says “… when an individual places their mouth over the site of the bite, their saliva further contaminates the wound and makes it harder to treat (not to mention, the individual also runs the risk of inadvertently allowing venom to enter their bloodstream if they have any small cuts in their mouth).”
This borders on blasphemy, but it seems that Randolph Scott was wrong.
FRED HILTON spent 36 years as
Source continue: Pennsylvania State University website; http://sites.psu.edu/rclbaskin1213/2013/03/19/if-you-get-bit-by-a-poiso nous-snake-you-shouldtry-and-suck-the-venom-out-fact-or-fi ction/; “Don’t Suck a Snakebite, Experts Dispel Snakebite Remedy Myths,” by Charlotte E. G rayson Mathis, M.D., Women’s Health, WebMD.com; http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20020802/dont-suck-snakebite; “Snake Bite Urban Myths: What You Shou ld Not
Do If You are Bitten by a Snake,” by Steve Thompson, Yahoo.com; http://voices.yahoo.com/snake-bite-urban-myths-not-if-you-10748 0.html
Be On Your Game
With college football and the NFL in full swing, many will spend their weekends sitting comfortably in recliners, cheering their favorite team. To avoid being sacked by calories, tackle those temptations for greasy pizza and fat-filled potato chips and try healthier game-day options.
• Make small sandwiches from lean ground turkey or grilled chicken.
• If you’re going to make dip, use a low-fat dairy products such as sour cream, Greek yogurt or cream cheese as the base. Then add spinach or finely chopped vegetables.
• Make nachos with baked, whole-grain tortilla chips. Use lean ground beef and low-fat cheese and then top the nachos with fresh vegetables.
• Fire up the grill and make steak kabobs with peppers and onions. This flavorful, low-fat treat is also high in protein which will satisfy the meat lovers at any tailgate party or backyard barbecue.
Sources: livestrong.com/article/511230-healthy-snacks-for-a-football-game-party/
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READ … URGENT
An urgent care center opened July 1 on the Leesburg Regional Medical Center campus. The facility features diagnostic tools such as X-ray and laboratory services, and patients needing a diagnostic assessment before a scheduled surgery or procedure can have all their screenings performed under one roof.
This is another example of Central Florida Health Alliance’s ongoing efforts to improve patient services.
“We’re growing along with our community, and we are dedicated to doing so in a meaningful, efficient and sustainable way,” says Bill Pfingsten, vice president of ambulatory services. “We’re excited to bring the community a beautiful urgent care center staffed with an experienced and talented medical team that has onsite access to the tools they need to deliver the best care in the area. We believe this addition to our campus will significantly improve convenient access to quality care for the residents of Leesburg and the surrounding area.”
Not So Fast
The more fast food we consume, the more we become a super-sized society. The following statistics offer proof.
$100 BILLION is the amount Americans spend at fastfood restaurants each year.
DID YOU KNOW? September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. In 2012, more than a third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health Trends
Looking to sow the seeds of better health? Consider chia seeds, one of the latest health crazes. Many Americans eat chia seeds with yogurt and in oatmeal, smoothies and salads.
Chia seeds:
• Are an excellent source of fiber.
• Are rich in omega-3s.
• Help boost calcium levels.
• Help decrease blood pressure and triglyceride cholesterol.
• Contain manganese, which helps fight free radicals.
Sources: chiroone.net/bewell/why-chiaseeds-are-the-latest-health-craze
Nothing To Sneeze At
Edward Neuzil, owner of Allergy, Sinus and Asthma Family Health Center in Lady Lake, was recently inducted as a 2014 Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
“I love helping people, and that’s why I decided to become a nurse practitioner,” says Neuzil, who has more than 35 years of experience in the medical field. “Nurse practitioners provide a tremendous service in ensuring more people have access to medical care. A fellowship is an honor because it means colleagues across the country look at you as a leader in both the community and in the nation.”
Neuzil has owned his practice for 13 years. One of his greatest professional achievements is developing the Dr. Neuzil Irrigator to help patients who suffer from allergies and other chronic sinus conditions. The product is sold by retailers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
1 MEAL at a fast-food restaurant contains all the calories you need in a day.
1 4
OUT OF
Americans eat fast food daily.
45 MILLION people around the world are fed by McDonald’s daily. That is more than the population of Spain.
Source: Cblog.partnersforyourhealth.com/Blog/ bid/85971/Shocking-Fast-Food-Statistics-YouShould-Know
