High Desert Perspective

LUCERNE VALLEY – A woman was flown by air ambulance to an area trauma center after being bitten by a snake outside the Lucerne Valley Post Office, officials said.

The woman’s condition was unknown after being admitted to Loma Linda University Medical Center, but Tracey Martinez, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department said that around 12:30 p.m. last Monday emergency workers were called to the 10400 block of Highland Road for a report of the snake bite.

Martinez said that the unnamed victim, a woman in her mid-40s was walking to the Post Office when she sat down in a dirt field.

“She felt something bite her hand but never saw a snake. She continued on to the post office and called 9-1-1, as her hand was swelling and she began feeling ill,” Martinez said.

Postmaster Cheryl Holden was working and went outside to aid the woman, whose husband said he did not know when or where she was bitten.

“She looked fine, she looked OK. She was bitten on her left wrist, on her forearm above her wrist,” Holden said.

Although the type of snake that bit the victim was unknown, Martinez said that snakes are starting to appear in the High Desert this time of year.

“Snakes usually come out during the morning hours to hunt for food. During the peak levels of the heat, snakes look for cool areas, such as brush and rocky boulder areas, under the porch, and woodpiles,” Martinez said.

If bitten by a snake, immediately call 9-1-1, keep calm, immobilize the wound, and whenever possible, keep the infected area lower than your heart, Martinez advises.

Avoid first-aid treatments such as tourniquets, ice packs or cutting and sucking the poison out. These are potentially harmful. Snake bite kits can be purchased at area pharmacies.