The snake was found around 4 p.m. on July 31. According to animal control personnel, the snake carried enough venom to take out several large adults.
#LASD 07/31/15, at 1600 hours, we had an unwelcomed visitor at the top of the stairs at the Station. pic.twitter.com/j7X8Uw9P7K
— LASD Marina del Rey (@MDRLASD) August 10, 2015
The snake was removed and taken away by animal control. Deputies would like to remind people to take precaution when dealing with a snakebite victim.
Steps to take when handling a snakebite victim:
- Remain calm and get at least 15 feet away from the snake.
- Arrange to have the victim taken to a medical facility as soon as possible
- Remove any restrictive clothing from the victim, such as rings, bracelets, watches and buttoned shirts.
- Immobilize the bitten limb and keep it below heart level. If the victim is more than an hour away from a medical facility, place a lightly constricting band above the bitten area to prevent the spread of venom. At least one finger should be able to fit underneath the band.
- Keep the victim calm to slow the heart rate and slow the rate of the venom spreading through the body.
- Never make an incision, use tourniquets, or suction out the venom. Suctioning can be harmful to the victim and it also carries a risk of contaminating the wound.
- If the snake is still nearby, get an accurate description by taking a photo or remembering certain physical traits such as color, pattern and length.
