Of course most people may not want to check a snake to see what kind of pupils it has. In that case, another good clue is the shape of the head. Georgia's pit viper's have triangular heads. Most snake's heads are rounded. Despite what Hollywood would have us believe, bites by snakes are actually very rare.
Most snakes are very frightened by the approach of humans, and quickly get out of our way.
When bites do occur, it is usually because the snake was accidentally stepped or sat on. By taking a few precautions, you can avoid snakes entirely. If you do get bitten, remain calm. Get to a doctor or hospital as quickly as possible. It would also help if you could identify the snake that bit you.