A sixth person has been bitten by a rattlesnake in Ventura County in Southern California, news reports said.<\/p>\n
The incident is the sixth in the past 30 days<\/a>, KTTV said. Two people bitten by rattlesnakes in the county have died.<\/p>\n In the most recent incident, a person attending a gathering near Cal State Channel Islands accidentally encountered a snake<\/a> about 4 p.m. Sunday, the Los Angeles Times said.<\/p>\n After the person was bitten, a friend drove them to a hospital and called 911, firefighters told the publication. Paramedics met the pair en route.<\/p>\n The patient is listed as stable but no other information was available.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an important reminder that we live and recreate in rattlesnake habitat,\u201d Andrew Dowd, public information officer for the Ventura County Fire Department, told the Los Angeles Times. \u201cAny time you\u2019re outdoors, it\u2019s important to stay aware and take precautions.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what to know about rattlesnakes:<\/p>\n How lethal are rattlesnakes?<\/p>\n Rattlesnake bites can be venomous and deadly, but it doesn\u2019t happen often. And your chances of survival are much greater if you seek immediate medical attention.<\/p>\n \u201cRattlesnake bites are rarely fatal with less than 1 in 600 resulting in death<\/a>, and approximately 33% not containing injection of venom at all,\u201d the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a fact sheet.<\/p>\n Other estimates say only 10% to 20% of rattlesnake bites don\u2019t contain venom<\/a>, the Los Angeles Times reported. And a victim\u2019s likelihood of death increases if there is an allergic reaction or \u201cif a fang reaches directly into a vein or artery.\u201d<\/p>\n Even if they are not venomous, they require medical attention.<\/p>\n Each year, up to 8,000 people<\/a> are bitten by venomous snakes in the country, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported, and about five of those people die.<\/p>\n According to the center, deaths from bites would be higher if people did not get medical help.<\/p>\n This doesn\u2019t mean these bites aren\u2019t dangerous.<\/p>\n The center states that rattlesnake bites are more likely to leave long-term injuries \u2014 with 10 to 44% of people having lasting wounds, such as losing mobility at the bite site.<\/p>\n What should I do if I get bitten by a rattlesnake?<\/p>\n What to do<\/p>\n Stay calm to slow the spread of the venomTry to remember the color and shape of the snake for later treatmentDial 911 and seek medical attention as soon as possible<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t get to the hospital right away, lay or sit down with the bite below the level of your heart. Then wash the wound with warm, soapy water and cover it with clean, dry material.<\/p>\n What not to do<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what not to do<\/a>, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:<\/p>\n Do not pick up the snake or try to trap itDo not apply a tourniquet (material used to prevent blood flow)Do not slash the wound with a knifeDo not suck out the venomDo not apply ice or soak the wound in waterDo not drink alcoholDo not drink caffeineHow to avoid rattlesnakes<\/p>\n While most snake bites occur when the animal is handled or accidentally touched, remember you are not their prey.<\/p>\n \u201cRattlesnakes aren\u2019t aggressive to humans<\/a> unless threatened or frightened,\u201d Stephen Nett, a Bodega Bay-based naturalist, wrote in Sonoma County Regional Park\u2019s blog.<\/p>\n The snakes are typically shy around bigger animals and instead feed on mice and other rodents.<\/p>\n They will rattle if they sense prey and try to escape.<\/p>\n Let them do so.<\/p>\n A rattlesnake can strike as far as two-thirds of its body length. Remain at least 10 steps away from it, or as far as possible, if you encounter one on a trail.<\/p>\n