Poisonous Snake Bites Elderly Woman
Firefighters Say Snake Was Pygmy Rattlesnake
POSTED: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
UPDATED: 6:28 pm EDT July 17,
2007
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- An elderly woman was rushed to an area hospital after being bitten Tuesday by a poisonous snake.
Authorities said the incident happened at a retirement facility called the Carriage Club in the 9600 block of Southbrook Drive on the Southside.
The Jacksonville Fire-Rescue said the 88-year-old woman was taken to St. Luke's Hospital after being bitten by what they believed was a pygmy rattlesnake.
Experts at poison control told Channel 4 the pygmy rattlesnake does not have very potent venom.
Workers at St. Luke's said the antivenin for the snakebite is available.
The condition of the woman was not immediately available.
Poison control said that fatalities from snakebites are very rare, but that children and the elderly are at a higher risk.
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