Hospitals Sharing Snake Bite Medicine

As the weather heats up and outdoor activities increase in the Mother Lode, so do the chances of having an encounter with a rattlesnake. Tuolumne General Hospital´s Director of Pharmacy Doug Johnston says a nationwide shortage has forced local hospitals to share anti-venom supplies. Area hospitals have enough right now to treat 3 or 4 bites, which is about the average per summer for the Mother Lode.

Companies are still waiting for FDA approval of a new anti-venom formula, and have stopped making the old version.