Sisters youth bitten by juvenile rattlesnake

A Pacific Northwest rattlesnake. photo by Jim Anderson Five-year-old Jacob Gurney of Squaw Creek Estates hasn't been around long enough to learn about rattlesnakes.

Last Tuesday at about 9 a.m. there was one in his backyard. Jacob thought it was a stick and he tried to pick it up. The rattlesnake bit Jacob on the thumb.

Jacob let out a piercing cry that alerted his mom, Chris, that her son was in big trouble.

"A snake bit me!" Jacob screamed, holding his hand up for his mother to see.

"Did you say, snake?" Jacob's mom asked, hoping to hear no for an answer.

"Yeeeesss!" he screamed in response.

One look was all it took, Chris could see the fang marks on Jacob's thumb, picking up her son she ran to the phone and called 911.

"My son has been bitten by a rattlesnake!"

Within moments, paramedics from the Sisters/Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District were on their way.

Faced with what could be a life-threatening incident, Chris didn't panic. She knew the best thing a person could do for anyone bitten by a venomous reptile is to keep the victim quiet and as she hugged him to help ease his anxiety, she lowered Jacob's hand to keep the venom lower than his heart.

She also did some quick and fervent praying.

A five-year-old struck by a venomous Western Rattlesnake, Crotolus viridis, could be very bad news. The venom administered by a snake's fangs often goes deep into the victim's tissues. The only good news is that most times a snake will only use about 20 percent of its venom in defense, while over 80 percent is used to kill prospective prey, such as ground squirrels or gophers.

Jacob's dad, Jim, was quick to respond to the emergency, certain that his son was mortally wounded by the snake. "He's yours, now, God" he whispered and joined his wife, Chris in a quick prayer that Jacob would survive.

Jacob Gurney is recovering well. photo provided

The first emergency worker to join Jacob and his distraught parents was Scott Mitchalrk, an EMT and nearby resident of the Gurney family. Scott settled Jacob on the family couch and began inspecting his wound, quietly asking the boy about the snake that bit him, and making sure it was actually a rattlesnake.

It was only 10 minutes later that EMT Jeremy Ast and his crew arrived with the Sisters/Camp Sherman emergency vehicles and started to check Jacob's vital signs and to make certain what type of snake bit him.

Although Jacob's mom knew that it was a rattlesnake, the EMTs had to be sure before they could begin proper first aid.

With that, Jacob's dad and Scotty ran out and began a frantic search for the snake and in moments found and killed it in a nearby "fort" the children played in.

It was determined that it was a 10-inch juvenile, which may not have the capability of injecting a large volume of venom, as would an adult.

Once it was positively determined that a rattlesnake was definitely involved, the EMTs set Air Life in motion from St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.

The Air Life helicopter landed near the intersection of Mt. View and Cayuse streets in Squaw Creek Canyon Estates, and had the antivenin prepared as the Sisters EMTs placed Jacob inside the helicopter. Within a scant 10 minutes, Jacob was in the hands of additional help at St. Charles and the antivenin was already administered to slow the progress of the venom in the boy's tissues.

As of press time, Jacob had fully recovered from his harrowing experience and appeared unaffected by it.

Jim and Chris Gurney are also aware -- actually resigned to the fact -- that rattlesnakes live in the area where they built their home.

"This is the first time I've even seen one in the five years we've lived here," Chris said. "And I know that others who have lived here longer haven't seen any either."

In addition to being thankful for all the emergency services that rushed to their aid, the Gurney family is also grateful for the immediate response of all their neighbors in Squaw Creek Canyon Estates who dropped what they were doing to come over and give any assistance that was needed.

Many of their friends in Sisters also responded with a prayer vigil.

"I was suddenly aware of how much the people around the community cared for us," Chris said.