5-Year-Old Spring Valley Snakebite Victim's Mother to Share Her Story

The San Miguel Fire District made the following announcement on Tuesday, April 23, 2013:

CAL FIRE/San Miguel Fire District Firefighters responded Monday to a report of a snake bite at 8700 Spring Canyon Road in the La Presa area of Spring Valley, at just before noon.

A 5-year-old girl was bitten on the foot as she was playing in a grassy common area of a condo complex. With help from residents, Firefighters from Station 16 located and confirmed it to be a rattlesnake.

The child was transported to Sharp Grossmont where she is receiving anti-venom.

Samatra Ethridge, the mother of the victim, Saniyah, will tell her story at Rady Children's Hospital on Wednesday, April 24, at 10 a.m.

Included in the presentation are:

• Dr. Katherine Konzen, Director of Rady Children’s Urgent Care Centers
• Lt. Kalani Hudson, San Diego County Dept. of Animal Services

The event will also serve as a training to inform the public about the kind of snake that bit Saniyah, as well as the three other kinds of rattlesnakes found in Southern California. Tips will be available on how to respond when a rattlesnake bites, and the mistakes many people make that can actually make things worse.

A rattlesnake bite can produce painful swelling, bruising, tissue destruction, bleeding problems, and, in rare cases, can be fatal. Children can be especially vulnerable; their natural curiosity often leads them to places where snakes may lay quietly, such as under rocks and in bushes. There are about 300 rattlesnake bite cases reported in California every year, according to the California Poison Control System. A helpful list of the “do’s and don’ts” of snake bites will be provided.

San Diego County Animal Services reported that there was a huge jump in snake calls Monday. As the weather warms up, the snakes become more active.

Animal Poison Control Center offers several tips to avoid chance encounters with snakes:

• Keep your yard tidy by clearing away undergrowth, toys and tools that make great hiding places for snakes.
• Keep walkways clear of brush, flowers and shrubs.Clean up any spilled food, fruit or bird seed, which can attract rodents—and therefore snakes—to your yard.
• When walking your pet, keep it on a leash.
• Steer your pet clear of long grasses, bushes and rocks.
• Snakes can strike across a distance equal to about half their body length. If you see a snake, head back the way you came.
• Familiarize yourself with snakes that are common in your area. In the event of a bite, identifying the type of snake may help with your pet’s treatment.