In what Cowichan Search and Rescue are calling a first for the operation, a team was dispatched to Pineapple Beach near Honeymoon Bay on June 15 just after 1 a.m. to collect a man who suspected he'd been bitten by a bat.
"Campers on Pineapple Beach had seen the bats but upon going to bed that night one of them had some pain and noticed puncture marks on his leg," said CSAR on Facebook. "We responded by boat to bring out the injured man and turn him over to BCEHS."
In what Cowichan Search and Rescue are calling a first for the operation, a team was dispatched to Pineapple Beach near Honeymoon Bay on June 15 just after 1 a.m. to collect a man who suspected he'd been bitten by a bat.
"Campers on Pineapple Beach had seen the bats but upon going to bed that night one of them had some pain and noticed puncture marks on his leg," said CSAR on Facebook. "We responded by boat to bring out the injured man and turn him over to BCEHS."
"We had 10 members respond and we had wrapped up by 6 a.m.," said CSAT spokesperson Jamie Tudway-Cains later.
Time is of the essence for those who believe they've been bitten by a bat.
If rabies shots are received in time, rabies in humans can be prevented if it's caught in time.
If you wait until the symptoms start to appear, it is usually too late to begin effective medical treatment, said CSAR.
According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, "If not treated in time, a rabies infection is almost always fatal."
If you are bitten or scratched by an animal that you think may have rabies, you should:
"Immediately wash the wound well with soap and water under moderate pressure (e.g. a running tap) for at least 15 minutes, then flush thoroughly with water. This lessens the chance of any infection," said the Centre for Disease Control. "Seek medical attention from your doctor or local public health unit (http://www.immunizebc.ca/finder) immediately."
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control notes that rabies spread through bites from other animals is rare in the province.
For more information on safely moving a bat or reporting bat sightings, residents can visit the , e-mail midisland@bcbats.ca or call 250-714-1990.
Time is of the essence for those who believe they've been bitten by a bat.
If rabies shots are received in time, rabies in humans can be prevented if it's caught in time.
If you wait until the symptoms start to appear, it is usually too late to begin effective medical treatment, said CSAR.
According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, "If not treated in time, a rabies infection is almost always fatal."
If you are bitten or scratched by an animal that you think may have rabies, you should:
"Immediately wash the wound well with soap and water under moderate pressure (e.g. a running tap) for at least 15 minutes, then flush thoroughly with water. This lessens the chance of any infection," said the Centre for Disease Control. "Seek medical attention from your doctor or local public health unit (http://www.immunizebc.ca/finder) immediately."
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control notes that rabies spread through bites from other animals is rare in the province.
For more information on safely moving a bat or reporting bat sightings, residents can visit the , e-mail midisland@bcbats.ca or call 250-714-1990.
