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Copperhead Strike: Business Owner's ICU Ordeal
6 Oct
Summary
- A local business owner was bitten by a juvenile copperhead.
- He experienced severe pain and swelling after the snakebite.
- Medical treatment included antivenom and intensive monitoring.
A business owner in Tyler, Texas, recently experienced a harrowing ordeal after being bitten by a copperhead snake. What began as a short walk to his home at night escalated into an intensive care unit stay due to the venomous bite.
Patrick O'Brien, owner of Project Lean Nation, encountered the snake on a pathway outside his house. Initially mistaking the intense pain in his foot for a scorpion sting, he soon discovered two fang marks. Doctors monitored the bite, tracking swelling and bruising, and administered IV treatment. He was eventually moved to the ICU and received antivenom.
O'Brien described the pain as comparable to being stung by multiple wasps simultaneously, noting its constant, burning nature. He emphasized the importance of staying calm after a snakebite to avoid increasing blood pressure and accelerating venom spread. Medical advice from UT Health East Texas reiterates remaining calm, avoiding handling the snake, keeping the bite below heart level, cleaning the wound, and seeking prompt medical care, while explicitly warning against using tourniquets or attempting to suck out venom.
