FWC, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Dept. Sign Antivenin Pact

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department have teamed up to save the lives of snakebite victims.  Gov. Charlie Crist made the announcement Friday.

“This partnership will save the lives of people who have been bitten by venomous creatures,” stated Governor Crist.  “It is an excellent example of government pooling their resources to better serve the people of Florida.”

The two agencies signed a memorandum of agreement that will make the FWC’s 12 aircraft available for emergency transportation of antivenin within Florida.  Miami-Dade has the world’s largest inventory of antivenin and is the only fire department-based antivenin bank in the United States.

{sidebar id=1}The project, dubbed Venom 1, provides that the FWC will provide its aircraft as one of several agencies taking part in the program, subject to aircraft availability.  The agreement does not cover flights outside Florida.

“Rapid response saves lives when a venomous snake bites somebody,” FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said.  “Sometimes there is very little time to treat the victim.  The FWC has the resources to help ensure victims’ survival, and this agency is pleased to make them available.”

According to “The Florida Handbook,” published by the Florida Department of State, roughly 300 venomous snakebites occur annually in Florida.  Fatalities are rare in the United States and other countries where prompt medical attention is availabl

Al Cruz of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department said coral snake antivenin will no longer be in production in the United States as of December 2008.

“That means every hospital in Florida will depend on us for the antivenin,” he said.

Cruz said 75-80 percent of coral snake bites in the United States occur in Florida.

This article originally published on September 14, 2007.

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