SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
TIP TOP MOUNTAIN
San Bernardino National Forest
T2N-R3E-17
T2N-R3E-17
April 27, 1943: "Bitten on the hand by a three-foot timber rattlesnake, Raymond W. Smith, 30, San Bernardino National forest lookout was brought to Big Bear lake yesterday after a physician had been summoned by radio to his isolated station to give him emergency treatment.
Mr. Smith, who gave himself first aid and then took anti-venom treatment from the physician, was reported to be in good condition at the Big Bear ranger station, where he was taken, and is expected to recover.
The first rattlesnake victim of the year in the San Bernardino mountains, Mr. Smith was bitten on the back of the hand as he cleaned up a pile of debris near his lookout station on Tip Top mountain, located 12 miles east of Big Bear.
The snake had been hiding in the debris and Mr. Smith failed to see it until it struck him.
Rushing to the lookout station, where he lives wife his wife, Mr. Smith cut the wound made by the snake's fangs, placed a tourniquet on his arm, and then used the suction method to draw out the poison.
In the meantime, a radio message was sent to the Big Bear ranger station and Ranger Wayne Allen called Dr. Moyer of Big Bear, who immediately left for Tip Top mountain.
Dr. Moyer administered anti-venom treatment to Mr. Smith at the lookout station and then brought him back to Big Bear where he will remain for observation for at least 24 hours.
A report of the accident was forwarded to DeWitt Nelson, San Bernardino National forest supervisor, who said that several rattlesnake already had been killed this year in the Big Bear area, indicating, perhaps, that snakes are coming out of their winter's hibernation early this spring.
Tip Top mountain, where the lookout station is located, is at an elevation of 8,500 feet. At that altitude and at that hour in the morning the temperature is low and snakes, generally, are sluggish, said Mr. Nelson.
'This particular snake wasn't sluggish, though,' said Mr. Nelson." (The San Bernardino County Sun)
Mr. Smith, who gave himself first aid and then took anti-venom treatment from the physician, was reported to be in good condition at the Big Bear ranger station, where he was taken, and is expected to recover.
The first rattlesnake victim of the year in the San Bernardino mountains, Mr. Smith was bitten on the back of the hand as he cleaned up a pile of debris near his lookout station on Tip Top mountain, located 12 miles east of Big Bear.
The snake had been hiding in the debris and Mr. Smith failed to see it until it struck him.
Rushing to the lookout station, where he lives wife his wife, Mr. Smith cut the wound made by the snake's fangs, placed a tourniquet on his arm, and then used the suction method to draw out the poison.
In the meantime, a radio message was sent to the Big Bear ranger station and Ranger Wayne Allen called Dr. Moyer of Big Bear, who immediately left for Tip Top mountain.
Dr. Moyer administered anti-venom treatment to Mr. Smith at the lookout station and then brought him back to Big Bear where he will remain for observation for at least 24 hours.
A report of the accident was forwarded to DeWitt Nelson, San Bernardino National forest supervisor, who said that several rattlesnake already had been killed this year in the Big Bear area, indicating, perhaps, that snakes are coming out of their winter's hibernation early this spring.
Tip Top mountain, where the lookout station is located, is at an elevation of 8,500 feet. At that altitude and at that hour in the morning the temperature is low and snakes, generally, are sluggish, said Mr. Nelson.
'This particular snake wasn't sluggish, though,' said Mr. Nelson." (The San Bernardino County Sun)