SerpApi.Org
A three-year-old girl from Southern California was bitten by a venemous rattlesnake that had been lurking underneath an Amazon delivery left outside her family's home.
The toddler, Addy Barajas, had dashed outdoors after her mother told her a parcel had arrived and been thrown over the front gate.
When the child reached for the padded envelope, the Southern Pacific rattlesnake hidden beneath it struck her on the left hand.
Her father, Manuel Barajas, recounted how Addy's mother quickly drove the girl to a nearby supermarket car park, where emergency responders were waiting.
Paramedics took Addy to a local hospital before she was moved to a paediatric intensive care unit.
She remained there for two days whilst receiving further rounds of antivenom treatment.
The family has since spoken publicly about the ordeal, hoping to raise awareness during what wildlife specialists describe as an exceptionally busy rattlesnake season in California.
Warmer-than-usual spring temperatures have prompted snakes to emerge earlier, driving a notable increase in bite incidents across the state.
Three people have died from rattlesnake bites in California so far this year.
Among the other serious cases, a hiker in Ventura County required an airlift to hospital in May after being bitten on a remote trail.
In March, a woman from Thousand Oaks lost her life following a bite sustained while walking at Wildwood Regional Park.
Ventura County fire crews reported earlier this year that they had attended seven rattlesnake bites within one month, blaming the spike on unseasonably warm conditions.
Mr Barajas told Nexstar's KTLA that he wanted other families to remain watchful around their properties and to find out which hospitals can handle paediatric snakebite emergencies.
"She's doing great now. She's, I want to say, about 70 per cent recovered," the father said."
"She's still bruised on her left hand where she was bitten. Her spirits are high, her demeanor is great, but she keeps asking why she was bitten by a snake."
Medical authorities advise that anyone who suffers a rattlesnake bite should immediately seek emergency treatment.
Staying as still as possible is also recommended, and people should not attempt any home remedies, which can make injuries worse.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the Barajas family with Addy's hospital bills and income lost during her recovery.
So far, it has raised more than $11,605 with hundreds of donations flooding in for the toddler.
The Southern Pacific rattlesnake is one of 12 species of rattlesnake native to California.
The Northern Pacific rattlesnake is considered to be the state's most dangerous, with one bite from the creature capable of killing a human if untreated.
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