A toddler from Sarnia, Ontario, aged 15 months, is recuperating at his residence following a rattlesnake incident at a family cottage during the Thanksgiving weekend. The child, named Wells Gladwish, was bitten on the thumb around 12:45 p.m. while at the family’s cottage in Cape Chin North on the Bruce Peninsula.
The incident occurred as Wells encountered a snake near a bonfire and attempted to pick it up, resulting in a bite to his thumb that quickly caused discoloration. Prompt action was taken to rush him to Lion’s Head Hospital for treatment. Despite initial challenges with starting an IV on the active toddler, the medical team at Lion’s Head administered 10 vials of antivenom, out of the 14 vials they had available.
The snake responsible for the bite was identified as an eastern massasauga rattlesnake, the only venomous snake species in Ontario found along the eastern shore of Georgian Bay and the Bruce Peninsula.
Due to the severity of the situation, Wells was later transferred to London Health Sciences Centre’s Victoria Hospital for further care. Initial plans for an air ambulance transfer were delayed, prompting a decision to use a land ambulance instead. At LHSC, Wells received additional doses of antivenom, totaling 18, under the care of Dr. Rishi Ganesan, a pediatric critical care physician.
Dr. Ganesan commended the collaborative effort of medical staff and specialists involved in Wells’s treatment. He emphasized the importance of timely intervention in snakebite cases and reassured that with proper care, the outcome is usually positive, minimizing the likelihood of long-term complications.
Following his treatment, Wells was discharged from the hospital and has since returned home to Sarnia. While he continues to recover, his father noted that Wells is using his thumb normally, with only a remaining blister at the bite site. The family remains vigilant for any potential delayed reactions to the antivenom.
In situations of rattlesnake bites, Dr. Ganesan advised treating it as a medical emergency and seeking immediate assistance by calling 911. He also highlighted the importance of caution when in areas where rattlesnakes reside, recommending vigilance while hiking or spending time outdoors to avoid potential encounters with these creatures.
