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Man bitten by rattlesnake:  ‘I’m lucky to be alive’

A Polk County man who was bitten by a rattlesnake outside of a hunting camp earlier this month says he’s lucky to be alive.

Jerome Roddenberry was bitten by a 5 ½ foot rattlesnake on April 9 at the River Ranch in rural Polk County.  On Friday, he met with the paramedics who responded and ultimately saved his life.

Roddenberry remembers very little about what happened, only that he heard gunfire and thought the snake was dead.

"I went over there, stepped on him and picked him up behind the head and [brought] him up to take a look at him, and he actually turned in my hand and bit me,” said Roddenberry.”

Roddenberry says he took about ten more steps and collapsed.  He says he doesn’t remember anything else until he woke up in a hospital bed.

Roddenberry was bitten on the hand.

Roddenberry’s friends called 911 and paramedics from the Polk County Fire Rescue responded.  He was airlifted to Osceola Regional Medical Center where doctors gave him 32 vials of antivenin.

Roddenberry is now back home recovering.  On Friday, he met with the paramedics who saved his life.

Patient Thanks Crews After Rattlesnake Bite

Bartow, Fla. (April 24, 2017) — Jerome Roddenberry was treated by Polk County Fire Rescue after a rattlesnake bit him on his hand. He’s now out of the hospital and recovering well. On Friday, April 21, he met some of the Polk County Fire Rescue members who started his care. Roddenberry was bitten on Sunday, April 9, by a five and a half foot rattlesnake. He told firefighters during the reunion that the bite itself didn’t hurt, “but things got bad, fast.” After about 10 steps he wasn’t able to move and approximately 30 seconds after the bite, he doesn’t remember anything until he woke in the hospital. “I have no memory of my first helicopter ride,” Roddenberry told firefighters. Polk County Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to the River Ranch hunting grounds around 6:30 p.m. Fire rescue crews were told someone shot the snake in the midsection and Roddenberry thought it was dead; but when he picked it up, the snake bit him on his hand. When fire rescue crews arrived, Roddenberry needed advanced medical care. He was airlifted to Osceola Regional Medical Center so antivenin could be administered. Mr. Roddenberry said he received 32 vials of antivenin at the hospital. “I’m lucky to be alive,” he added. Roddenberry also told the Polk County Fire Rescue members, “You saved my life. You kept me going until I got to the hospital.” If you are interested in learning more about treating snakebites, envenomation care will be explored at the Polk County Fire Rescue’s EMS Symposium on Tuesday, May 23. Registration is free. Visit www.polk-county.net/EMS-Symposium to register.

Posted by Polk County Fire Rescue on Monday, April 24, 2017

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