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WHAT’S HAPPENING’S TRI-CITY VOICE
May 15, 2018
before sitting down. Avoid placing your hands or feet where you can’t clearly see what is in the area.” He adds, “And be sure to check the immediate area around picnic tables, barbecues and campsites before using the facilities.”
heart rate can spread the snake’s poison faster, Dr. Nguyen explains. Rattlesnake bite victims need to be taken to the nearest emergency room where antivenom treatment can be started. Any rattlesnake bite should be considered a medical emergency. A rattlesnake bite usually has two puncture wounds and causes intense, burning pain. More than 7,000 snake bites occur each year in the United States, Dr. Nguyen says, with only one-third of those from handling snakes. The balance comes from incidental encounters. And interestingly, he adds, men are nine times more likely to be bitten than women. “For whatever reason, it seems men are more likely to do something to provoke a snake while women are more likely to retreat,” Dr. Nguyen adds.
When you go hiking in the Bay Area hills make sure you wear a hat, use sunscreen, bring plenty of water — AND watch out for rattlesnakes. Snake season has begun and several sightings of rattlesnakes on East Bay trails, including Mission Peak have been reported.
rattlesnakes are cold-blooded and are more active the warmer they get. Hikers should wear long pants, and boots, if possible. Eighty percent of snake bites occur below the knee.
“Local residents and others who like to hike our hills, need to take sensible precautions to avoid a rattlesnake bite,” says Dr. Tam Nguyen, a primary care physician at Washington Township Medical Foundation Nakamura Clinic in Union City.
Dr. Nguyen recommends hiking with a companion so that, if an accident or incident occurs, someone can go for help as cell phones may not work. If you are bitten by a rattlesnake, get help as soon as possible. Stay calm and send someone to call 9-1-1. The snakebite victim should lie down with the affected limb resting lower than the heart.
Although rattlesnakes are in the hills year round, they are more active in the spring and summer when the days, and the ground, warm up. Like all snakes,
If you are alone, walk calmly — do not run — to the nearest source of help: another hiker, a park official, or a phone to call 9-1-1. Anything that increases the
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), rattlesnakes belong to a unique group of venomous snakes known as pit vipers; the rattlesnake is the only pit viper found in California. Other snakes may bite but they won’t poison you, according to Dr. Nguyen. If you are bitten by any other kind of snake, wash the wound with soap and water or an antiseptic and seek medical attention.
The CDFW recommends specific actions in the event of a snake bite. What you should do after a rattlesnake bite • Stay calm but act quickly • Remove watches, rings and other jewelry, which may constrict swelling • Transport the victim to the nearest medical facility What you should NOT do after a rattlesnake bite • DON’T apply a tourniquet • DON’T pack the bite area in ice • DON’T cut the wound with a knife or razor • DON’T use your mouth to suck out the venom • DON’T let the victim drink alcohol Snake bites are also a concern for dog owners. The CDFW recommends keeping your dog on leash when hiking in snake country. Dogs are at increased risk of being bitten due to holding their nose to the ground while investigating the outdoors. Speak to your veterinarian about canine rattlesnake vaccines and what to do if your pet is bitten.
Don’t depend on a rattlesnake warning you with its rattle. CDFW officials note that rattlesnakes sometimes don’t rattle. A rattlesnake can be identified by its triangular head that is slightly wider than its neck, a thick body with dull skin, and black and white bands on its tail. The tip of the tail has the rattle. Dr. Nguyen recommends other precautions while hiking, “When hiking, look at the ground ahead of you and look carefully around and under logs and rocks
Fear of an unexpected encounter of the reptilian variety should not keep you inside. “Summer months are a great time to get fresh air and exercise outside,” says Dr. Nguyen. “Just use common sense and preventive measures.”
InHealth broadcasts on Comcast Channel 78 in Fremont, Newark and Union City and online at www.inhealth.tv The full schedule of InHealth programs listed below can also be viewed in real time on the Washington Hospital website, www.whhs.com
12:00 PM 12:00 AM
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5/15/18
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5/18/18
5/19/18
5/20/18
5/21/18
Diabetes Matters: Gastroparesis
12:30 PM 12:30 AM
Skin Health: Skin Cancer & Fountain of Youth
New to Medicare? What You Need to Know
1:00 PM 1:00 AM
1:30 PM 1:30 AM
(Late Start) Family Caregiver Series: Panel Discussion
2:00 PM 2:00 AM
2:30 PM 2:30 AM
3:00 PM 3:00 AM
Washington Township Health Care District Board Meeting April 11, 2018
Solutions for Weight Management
Strategies to Help Lower Your Cholesterol and Blood Pressure
Superbugs: Are We Winning the Germ War?
4:00 PM 4:00 AM
4:30 PM 4:30 AM
How to Talk to Your Doctor The Patient's Playbook Community Forum: Getting to the No-Mistake Zone
5:00 PM 5:00 AM
5:30 PM 5:30 AM
6:00 PM 6:00 AM
Nerve Compression Disorders of the Arm
Keys to Healthy Eyes
6:30 PM 6:30 AM
7:00 PM 7:00 AM
7:30 PM 7:30 AM
Washington Township Health Care District Board Meeting April 11, 2018
8:00 PM 8:00 AM
8:30 PM 8:30 AM
9:00 PM 9:00 AM
Digestive Health: What You Need to Know Learn About the Signs & Symptoms of Sepsis
9:30 PM 9:30 AM
10:00 PM 10:00 AM
(Late Start) Menopause: A Mind-Body Approach
11:30 PM 11:30 AM
Diabetes Matters: The History of Diabetes
Shingles
Skin Health: Skin Cancer & Fountain of Youth
Diabetes Matters: Type 1.5 Diabetes Inside Washington Hospital: Advanced Treatment of Aneurysms
Updated Treatments for Knee Pain & Arthritis
Diabetes Matters: Diabetes & Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Washington Township Health Care District Board Meeting April 11, 2018 Family Caregiver Series: Tips for Navigating the Health Care System
Understanding Mental Health Disorders
Sports Medicine Program: Think Running is a Pain? It Doesn't Have to Be
Vitamins & Supplements: How Useful Are They?
Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Cancer Recurrence
(Late Start) Alzheimer's Disease
(Late Start) Crohn's & Colitis Women's Heart Health Eating for Heart Health by Reducing Sodium
Pain When You Walk? It Could Be PVD
Washington Township Health Care District Board Meeting May 9, 2018
Family Caregiver Series: Legal & Financial Affairs 11th Annual Women's Health Conference: Heart Health Nutrition
Palliative Care Series: How Can This Help Me?
Your Concerns InHealth: Sun Protection
Strengthen Your Back! Learn to Improve Your Back Fitness
Minimally Invasive Surgery for Lower Back Disorders
Sports Medicine Program: Nutrition & Athletic Performance
Skin Health: Skin Cancer & Fountain of Youth
(Late Start) Voices InHealth: Healthy Pregnancy
New Treatment Options for Chronic Sinusitis
From One Second to the Next (Late Start) Early Detection & Prevention of Female Cancers
Good Fats vs. Bad Fats Diabetes Matters: Diabetes: Is There an App for That?
Heart Health: What You Need to Know
Family Caregiver Series: Advance Health Care Planning & POLST
(Late Start) Voices InDiabetes Health Fair: Health: Radiation Safety Quick Meals On A Budget
(Late Start) Mindful Healing Washington Skin Health: Skin Cancer & Fountain of Youth (Late Start) Learn If Township Health Care You Are at Risk for Liver District Board Stop Diabetes Before it Disease Meeting Minimally Invasive Options in Gynecology (Late Start) Starts May 9, 2018 Learn More About (Late Start) Diabetes 11th Annual Women's Health Kidney Disease Deep Venous Thrombosis
Not A Superficial Problem: Varicose Veins & Chronic Venous Disease Learn the Latest Treatment Options for GERD
Symptoms of Thyroid Problems
(Late Start) Dietary Treatment to Treat Celiac Disease Understanding HPV: What You Need to Know
(Late Start) Mental Health Education Series: Anxiety Disorders
Conference: Meditation
Washington Township Health Care District Board Meeting April 11, 2018
Keeping Your Heart on the Right Beat
Arthritis: Do I Have One of 100 Types?
10:30 PM 10:30 AM
11:00 PM 11:00 AM
Raising Awareness About Stroke
Mental Health Education Series: Understanding Mood Disorders
You Need to Know
(Late Start) Diabetes Matters: Living with Diabetes
3:30 PM 3:30 AM
Obesity: Understand the Prostate Cancer: What Causes, Consequences & 11th Annual Women's You Need to Know Prevention Health Conference: Patient's Playbook Urinary Incontinence Palliative Care Series: in Women: What You Palliative Care Understanding HPV: What Need to Know Demystified
Respiratory Health Kidney Transplants Diabetes Matters: Hypoglycemia
Diabetes Health Fair: Heart Health & Diabetes: What is the Connection
Meatless Mondays
Inside Washington Hospital: The Green Team
Mental Health Education Series: Anxiety Disorders
Kidney Transplants
Colon Cancer: Prevention & Treatment
(Late Start) Your Concerns InHealth: Senior Scam Prevention Diabetes Matters: Mindless vs Mindful Eating
Matters: Diabetes Ups & Downs: Troubleshooting High & Low Blood Sugar Levels Family Caregiver Series: Recognizing the Need to Transition to a Skilled Nursing Facility
(Late Start) Diabetes Matters: Medicare
Washington Township Health Care District Board Diabetes Matters: Sugar Meeting Substitutes - Sweet or May 9, 2018 Sour? Understanding HPV: What You Need to Know Voices InHealth: New Diabetes Matters: Exercise Surgical Options for Breast IS Medicine Cancer Treatment