Latest news with #DanGeiger
News18
23-05-2025
- Health
- News18
Cyclist's Attempt To Rescue Snake From Being Run Over Ends With Venomous Bite
Last Updated: New York cyclist's good deed goes wrong after he's bitten by a venomous copperhead snake while trying to move it off a road. News18 A New York-based cyclist was bitten by a venomous snake after he tried to save it from being run over by traffic, leading to a hospital visit and a badly swollen finger. Dan Geiger, a Manhattan-based writer, was cycling along the Palisades Cliffs in New Jersey when he spotted what looked like a lethargic copperhead snake lying across the road. Fearing it would be crushed by a passing vehicle, he attempted to gently nudge it off the path. But the rescue attempt backfired. 'I just sort of nudged again, and I was just too close," Geiger told local broadcaster Fox5, describing how the snake struck him on the finger with 'precision and speed." Officials at the Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was treated, said Geiger's finger turned deep purple and swelled alarmingly. Two passersby helped him call emergency services and he was rushed to hospital, where doctors administered antivenom to stop the venom from spreading further. Doctors say while antivenom halts the worsening of symptoms, it does not reverse damage already caused. 'It just stops things from getting worse," said Dr Daria Falkowitz, a medical toxicologist at the hospital, while speaking to the broadcaster. 'It just stops things from getting worse, and so whatever tissue damage has already occurred prior to receiving it, is there. Though initially it doesn't look bad, the damage has been done, so we expect some progression over a day or two," she further added. Geiger spent two nights under observation and has since been discharged, though doctors have advised that he won't be able to use his hand for at least a week. Copperhead snakes are venomous but rarely fatal. They are found in parts of North America, including New Jersey. Experts say such snakes generally avoid human contact, and incidents like this are uncommon. Copperhead snakes, native to parts of the eastern and central US, typically grow between 2 and 3 feet in length. Known for their distinctive copper-colored heads and hourglass-shaped patterns on their bodies, they are among the most commonly encountered venomous snakes in the region. While their bites are rarely fatal, they can cause significant tissue damage and require prompt medical attention. According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States sees about 7,000 to 8,000 venomous snake bites annually, with an average of five fatalities each year First Published: May 24, 2025, 00:00 IST
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NYC man bit by venomous copperhead snake on NJ bike path
A New York man dodged death when he was bit by a venomous snake while bike riding in New Jersey. Dan Geiger was pedaling along the Palisades Cliffs recently when he saw a snake in the middle of the bike path. 'I notice a lot of squashed snakes because snakes go out to the pavement to sun themselves or to gather heat, and I guess they're a target for automobiles,' Geiger told Fox 5. To prevent the animal from getting run over, he stopped to get off his bike and move it with his water bottle. Then disaster struck. 'I nudged it, it didn't, it was very lethargic seeming, and I just sort of nudged again, and I was just like too close, you know, my hand was just too close to its head, I guess, and it just, it struck me with precision and speed,' Geiger told the outlet. Geiger was able to call 911 with the help of two passersby, but he was already feeling the effects of the copperhead's bite. He was taken Hackensack University Medical Center, which has a team that specializes in treating bites from venomous snakes. While copperhead venom isn't usually deadly, it can cause serious symptoms like internal bleeding, swelling and tissue death. Daria Falkowitz, director of the Division of Medical Toxicology at Hackensack University Medical Center, told the station antivenom isn't a miracle cure. 'It just stops things from getting worse and so whatever tissue damage has already occurred prior to receiving it is there,' she said. Photos of the aftermath show Geiger's swollen, discolored right index finger. However, Falkowitz said because the antivenom was administered so quickly, Geiger likely avoided permanent damage. Copperheads are one of the 22 types of snakes native to New Jersey.
