By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - A Knoxville teenager is lucky to be alive after being bitten by a copperhead snake.
The bite happened while Stetson Howard, 14, was at Boy Scout camp in Andersonville, along Norris Lake.
"We were just sitting around the campfire and somebody yelled snake so we came to investigate," Stetson said. "They were all saying it was a non-poisonous snake. I went to grab it so no one would kill it and it bit me."
The snake was only able to get one fang into Stetson's thumb, but the bite area swelled and hurt similar to a wasp sting.
A Scout leader at the camp identified the snake as a baby copperhead.
"I really wasn't worried about death. But losing my arm or something, I don't know how I would cope with a limb missing," Stetson said.
Stetson's mother works in the trauma unit at UT Medical Center. She knew her hospital was one of the only ones in the area that had anti-venom, and told them to send him there immediately.
"There is a shortage of the anti-venom," said Dr. Doug Jentilet, with the hospital's emergency department. "It's been going on for six months and because of that, some of the smaller, outlying hospitals don't stock any more because they can't get it."
Dr. Jentilet says smaller hospitals will transfer their snake bite victims to UT for treatment.
"I'm really grateful his mom works up there and she was able to know those important details and convey that to my husband and Stetson," said Stetson's stepmother, Brenda Howard.
After three bags of anti-venom and a day and a half in the hospital, Stetson was able to go home.
His younger brother Liam Howard, gave him this advice. "Never play with baby snakes if you don't know what they are."
Anti-venom treatments are not cheap. Each one costs several thousand dollars.
If you are bitten by a snake, it's important to remain calm and identify what kind of snake bit you, so doctors can give you the correct treatment.
The most important piece of advice is, if you're outdoors try to not put your hands or feet in places where you can't see.
Stetson Howard still has the snake that bit him, but it's no longer alive.
It's important to identify what kind of snake bit you.
