On September 18, 2023, a 21-year-old female Amazon delivery driver named Monet Robinson was making a routine delivery in Florida's Palm City. However, the delivery was ultimately anything but routine.
What Happened: Unfortunately, as Robinson attempted to deliver a package, she was bitten by an eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Thankfully, Robinson realized what had happened very quickly, since she reportedly felt ill.
Robinson called 911 and the Martin County Sheriff's Office was able to locate her via GPS with medical assistance. The Sheriff's Office communicated with the public via Facebook and posted a picture of the snake.
The Aftermath of the Bite: Video footage from the Sheriff's Department showed that Robinson was sitting on the ground when help arrived with a bite to her leg. Law enforcement lowered a padded sleeve she was wearing on her leg to avoid constriction.
Robinson was reportedly in "serious condition" at the hospital following the incident.
The Importance of Robinson Remaining Calm To The Outcome: A wildlife expert told Florida's WESH that the emergency personnel's directive that Robinson remain calm and slow her breathing was very important to the outcome, as doing so means the snake's venom will move through the body more slowly.
Robinson is Reportedly Awake And Talking - Per a News Station That Spoke To Her While She Was in The Hospital: On September 20, 2023, Florida's WPTV spoke "very briefly" to Robinson while she was in Cleveland Clinic Martin North. Robinson indicated that she was in "a lot of pain," but had her family with her in the hospital.
An Update on The Snake: Because the snake was reportedly "aggressive and angry," Sgt. Brian Tison euthanized the snake to ensure public safety.
These Snakes Are Reportedly "Very Common" To Florida, But Attacks Are Said To Be "Rare:" A representative from the Martin County Sheriff's Office told WPTV that eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are "very common" in the area.
However, experts in this field - such as the University of Florida and wildlife specialist Amy Kight - offer reassurance that actual attacks are rare.
Wildlife specialist Kight told WESH that it's very important to remain calm if you are bitten and to slow your breathing, explaining, in part:
"...When you start to panic, when you start to raise your blood pressure, and the blood gets pumping more, that’s just going to process the venom through your body quicker."
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