Valley hospital sees more snake bites with warmer weather

PHOENIX - Valley hospital officials say they're seeing more snake bite cases as the weather gets warmer.

Virginia Rodgers was one of them; she never saw the snake that bit her coming. 

Rodgers said she grabbed her flashlight and headed to her backyard when she noticed her dog acting strangely.

"She was just staring at something, really staring, so I knew there was something out there, but I didn't know what," said Rodgers, Banner Poison Center's fifth snake bite victim in two weeks.

As Rodgers moved an old wagon wheel by her dog's kennel she was struck.

"It was extremely painful, it was so fast, but you could feel the bite because the fangs went in and the blood was just pouring all over," she said.

Within seconds Virginia's arm was swelling.

"By the time I got into the house the first time to wash the blood off, it started swelling," Rodgers said.

"The venom brakes down the muscle and tissue, we see bleeding, swelling, bruising," explained Dr. Daniel Brooks M.D., Co-Medical Director of Banner Poison Center.

Brooks said they've seen more severe snake bite reactions in the last couple of years, but aren't sure why.

"Lower extremities bites or leg bites are much worse on average," Brooks said.

Doctors say when you have a bite, it's important to call 911immediately. 

"They told me over the phone 'stay calm,' I said 'I'm trying,'" said Rodgers who managed to trap the snake under a plastic bowl after she called for help, something experts warn not to do. 

"I didn't want it loose in my back yard. I have grandchildren who play back there," she said. "Oh well,  live and learn."