Poison from the Mojave rattlesnake, for instance, rates as approximately 44 times more potent than the Southern Copperhead1s. Arizona is the most likely place to die of a snakebite, with Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Alabama filling out the top five. Mild pit viper envenomations hurt, swell, turn black and blue, and sometimes form a blister at the site. Moderate envenomations add swelling that moves up the arm or leg toward the heart, numbness, and swollen lymph nodes. A severe envenomation might add big jumps in pulse rates and breathing rates, profound swelling, blurred vision, headache, lightheadedness, sweating, and chills.
Death is possible.
Snake venom often varies greatly depending on the species, and specific treatment may vary. Keep the patient physically at rest with the bitten extremity immobilized and kept lower than the heart. Remove rings, watches, or anything else that might reduce the circulation if swelling occurs. Wash the wound. Measure the circumference of the extremity at the site of the bite and at a couple of sites between the bite and the heart, and monitor swelling.