JOSHUA TREE, Calif. — Dr. Matt Silvis likes to explore national parks.
The Hershey Bears team physician had the opportunity to visit Joshua Tree National Park during the team's recent Calder Cup trip to Palm Desert, California. As he was leaving the area, he stumbled upon an emergency situation that required his expert attention.
"I came across a young man that had been bitten by a rattlesnake," Dr. Silvis disclosed. "This is rattlesnake season in Joshua Tree, and we rendered aid to get him to calm down, kind of told him what not to do so he didn't make any critical mistakes and then off to the emergency department to get antivenom."
Dr. Silvis said it was important to make sure the victim didn't panic and that those bitten actually have more time to get antivenom than most people think. The treatment is most effective if you can receive it in the first four hours after the bite.
"He was very appreciative, I just made sure to tell him to be careful on his way to the emergency room, not to speed on the highway while getting there," Dr. Silvis said. 'I'm just glad the outcome was positive for him, and hopefully he'll enjoy hiking for many more years of his life and he'll continue to get back out there."
In case you're wondering, Dr. Silvis has been in situations before where someone could say "Is there a doctor in the house?"
"Most physicians have had the experience where you are on a plane or out on a boat or something like that," he shared. "It's happened to me on vacation multiple times where someone needs a physician. It's always nice to be able to offer some advice or help someone in need. It's not something we plan for, but it's certainly something we're prepared for if something were to happen."
You can watch the full interview with Dr. Matt Silvis below: