Rattlesnake found at Marina del Rey sheriff's station

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (KABC) -- A rattlesnake was found at the top of a staircase at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Marina del Rey Station.

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.

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.