460th CES offers snake safety tips Published Aug. 11, 2014 460th Space Wing Public Affairs BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- From March through the beginning of November, your chances of encountering snakes increase exponentially. When snakes first appear after a long winter, they are looking for a meal and then a mate. As temperatures increase during the spring through the end of summer, you may occasionally see snakes in your yard and during outdoor activities. There are several snake safety tips that will help reduce the presence of snakes in your area. By eliminating the ideal conditions for a snake you can greatly reduce the chance of snake bites in the area. 1. Keep grass cut short. Snakes love to lay in high grass where they are often concealed from your view. 2. Small bushes and flower beds are a great place for snakes to hide. 3. Never leave food sitting out. Small animals such as rats, birds and squirrels are attracted to food. Since snakes pray on small animals there is a good chance they will follow them to their feeding ground. 4. Don't keep materials piled up outside. Wood and brick piles make great hiding places for snakes. Also piles of leaves or other debris from the work site can make a great home for a snake. 5. If you see a snake, back up slowly and immediately call 460th CES Customer Service 720-847-9913 or Pest Management 720-847-6396. If you or someone is bitten by a snake, call for medical attention immediately. While you are waiting for them to arrive, you can use these snake bite first aid safety tips. , First Aid for Snakebites 1. Keep the bite below your heart. This will help slow the movement of the venom through your body. 2. Remove any clothing around the bite. Since the bitten area may swell the clothes could become constrictive. 3. Do not cut the area or try to suck out the venom. This could cause an infection in the area. 4. Never attempt to capture the snake that bit you. It could strike again since it is already agitated. 5. Try to remember what the snake looks like. This will help the doctors to give you the correct anti-venom. Call 911 or Fire Department Base Dispatcher (847-9929) and seek medical attention from a physician or hospital experienced with treating snakebites. If you do not know what kind of snake caused the bite, treat it as you would a venomous bite and do not waste time trying to catch or kill it. If you know the snake is venomous, remove any constricting jewelry, watches, clothing, etc. Keep the bite victim calm, and the injured limb still as you would a strain or break. Clean the bite area thoroughly, if time to the hospital is not delayed. Symptoms Of a Snake Bite Even if you follow all of these snake safety tips, there is still a small possibility that you could get bitten. It is a good idea to know the symptoms so you can identify if you or someone working with you has been bit. 1. Intense pain in the area 2. Swelling 3. Bleeding 4. Shortness of breath 5. Weakness 6. Dizziness 7. Fever 8. Numbness 9. Nausea 10. Sweating 11. Increased heart rate 12. Blurred vision 13. Fainting Once again, if you see a snake on base call 460 CES Customer Service (720-847-9913 or Pest Management 720-847-6396.