We would like to make you aware of the origins of the controversy regarding the effectiveness of the Extractor® Pump Kit. Several years ago, there was a study conducted which questioned the effectiveness of the Extractor®. Unfortunately, the conclusions drawn from the study significantly exceeded the actual data. Let us explain to you what the proper conclusions from the study should have been, what we did learn, and what should not have been over concluded in a subject that is very difficult to study, snake bites.

In the study, a pig was injected with venom in each thigh.  On one thigh they applied the pump for several hours.  On the other thigh nothing was done.  First they concluded that the swelling on both legs was equal, and therefore, the pump must not have removed venom.  Secondly, by leaving the pump on so long the pig developed blood blisters.  No necropsy (animal autopsy) was conducted to examine difference in internal damage which may have supported benefits of the pump’s usage. 

Understanding how a body reacts to an invasion, one should expect to see equal swelling.  Given the relative large amounts of venom injected at each site, the body would send fluids whether or not the pump removed venom.  The body wouldn't send more to one thigh than the other because it had 10%, 20%, 30% ... more venom than the other, both sites had a large amount of venom injected and the body fought them both.

Secondly, leaving the pump on for several hours (we recommend 10 to 15 minutes) should leave a blood blister.  Even without an envenomation the pump can give you a heck of a hickey.   However at 10 to 15 minutes the pump would remove whatever it is going to get, and any surface damage heals easily compared to structural damage.  Ten to 15 minutes is the medical recommendation.

Lastly, few snake bites actually occur in large muscle mass areas such as a thigh or calf muscle.  Most are in the extremities (hand, feet, and ankles) where venom is more easily retrieved.

Bottom line, this research is not as definitive as it is perceived to be or deserving of the conclusions associated with it.  But it lives.  Fortunately, not all the industry experts bought into the data. The heavy hitters in the industry, such as  Dr. Paul S. Auerbach, still recommend using the pump in their books, as do the Boy Scouts in their field manuals.   Whatever influence this study had, the consensus is going back the other way now.  It is a shame that they put such a concerted effort to influencing buyers and store owners. 

For more information about snake bites, go to:
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers/lyonspress/med_out3.htmnspress/med_out3.htm