Oregon Police Officers Credited for Saving Young Child Bitten by Rattlesnake

The child is in stable condition today at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland.

Western Rattlesnake Photo: fs.fed.us

(MONUMENT, Ore. ) - Quick response efforts by police and medical responders were credited with saving the life of a 3 1/2 year old child after the child was bitten by a rattlesnake Tuesday afternoon near Monument in Grant County.

At approximately 5:45 PM, Grant County 9-1-1 dispatch contacted Oregon State Police Trooper Cody Weaver requesting an emergency relay of snakebite venom for a child that was being transported to Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day.

The OSP trooper met a Harney County deputy sheriff at the county line and transported the venom, arriving at the hospital at 6:48 PM at about the same time an ambulance crew arrived with the victim as well as an air ambulance crew came to transport the child to Portland.

The snakebite venom was administered as part of the local medical treatment and then the child was transported by air to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland where the child is reportedly in stable condition.

According to OSP Sergeant Gordon Larson, local medical providers acknowledged the quick response by the ambulance crews, police, and the quick administration of the anti-venom increased the child's likely hood of recovery.