Anaheim Hiker Recovering From Snakebite : Precautions: People should be prepared when they enter a snake habitat and should know what to do if bitten, a Forestry Service official says.

An Anaheim man remained hospitalized Sunday after suffering a rattlesnake bite while hiking through heavy brush, a danger officials say all hikers should be prepared to encounter.

Mark Alferi, 29, was listed in satisfactory condition after undergoing antivenin treatments, a Kaiser Permanente Hospital-Orange County spokeswoman said. Alferi was bitten on the big toe of his right foot while hiking in sandals Saturday near Nohl Ranch Road and Serrano Avenue, Anaheim firefighters said.

Bill Bourbeau, captain of the U.S. Forestry Service, said hikers can take steps to avoid snakes and snakebites.

“What you want to do is give a snake its ground,” Bourbeau said. “They live there, and it’s their home, so what you want to do is get out of their way. In general, they are just as afraid of people as people are afraid of them.”

He said hikers should stay clear of rocks and logs, or any brush that could provide a shady spot for snakes. He said hikers should carry a walking stick to help “usher” the snake off trails. Checking campsites for snakes before settling in, wearing thick pants, high socks and high-top boots are also advised. Hikers should never hike alone, and they should be careful at night when snakes, seeking to escape the day’s heat, do much of their feeding.

There are 28 types of rattlesnake, spread out from Canada to Uruguay, with the greatest number concentrated in the Southwest United States and Mexican highlands.

The most common in this area is the Western rattlesnake, particularly a subspecies known as the Southern Pacific rattlesnake. These are found in Southern California grass and brushlands, rocky outcroppings and ledges as well as rocky stream beds, according to the “Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians,” by Robert C. Stebbins.

Don Bennett, assistant director of the UC Irvine Poison Control Center, said a snakebite victim should be kept calm and still because activity can expedite the spread of venom through the system. He said cleaning the wound with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or soap and water can help counteract bacteria from the snake’s mouth. Also, he suggested applying a cool compress to the bite area.

If the victim is bitten on an arm or leg, a snug band should be placed between the bite and the heart, he said. The band should not be so tight as to cut off the flow of blood. Because venom is transported by the lymphatic system, not the bloodstream, cutting off circulation is not effective, and in fact can abet the venom’s tendency to destroy local tissue.

As the bite area swells, Bennett said, the snug band should be loosened so it never cuts off circulation and a pulse is always felt.

Another overly aggressive field treatment that can go awry is the practice of cutting across the wound and sucking the venom out.

“A lot of times someone will cut on the fang marks so they can suck the venom out, but they cut too wide or too deep,” he said. “And you don’t want to do that. You won’t be doing the gentleman any favors.”

Venom often thins the blood in the wound area, robbing it of some if its coagulating ability, so a deeper cut could produce bleeding that is difficult to stop.

Basically, Bennett said, the best field care to is to carefully get the victim out of the field.

“A lot of the field treatments are controversial, such as sucking out the venom, and people disagree on whether you should do them or not,” he said. “But everyone agrees that you should get the person to a hospital or clinic where they can proper treatment. Antivenin is the only proven effective therapy, and you can only get that through hospitalization.”

HOW TO AVOID SNAKEBITE

If you encounter a snake, slowly back up and circle around. Avoid any contact if possible.

Avoid putting hands and feet in areas you can’t see into, such as under rocks or in brush.

Carry a walking stick, wear thick pants, high socks and high-top boots.

IF YOU ARE BITTEN

Keep calm and still to prevent speeding venom’s spread.

Clean the wound and apply a cold compress.

Tie a snug band between bite area and heart. It should not be so tight it stops circulation. Loosen the band as area swells.

Seek care immediately.

Sources: U.S. Department of Forestry, UC Irvine Poison Control Center