Little Kid Bitten by Copperhead

Snake scare: Copperhead bites Tennessee preschooler during camping trip
A 3-year-old boy from Chattanooga is recovering after a copperhead snake bit him during a camping trip in North Carolina.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WTVC) — A 3-year-old boy from Chattanooga is recovering after a copperhead snake bit him during a camping trip in North Carolina.

Jad Pollom was camping with his family in North Carolina over Memorial Day weekend at the Highlands, near the Georgia border.

Copperhead bites Tennessee preschooler during camping trip (Photo: Stacey Pollom)

Jad's mother Stacey said he was outside a cabin playing on the porch when he was bit.

His father, Jesse. had the wherewithal to take a picture of the snake as it slithered away.

They rushed Jad to a local emergency room, where he got 10 vials of anti-venom treatment.

Jad's father Jesse managed to take a photo of the culprit before it slithered away, which was crucial help for medical professionals treating Jad in the E.R. Photo via Stacey Pollom.

But that apparently wasn't enough and the skin near his right ankle continued to swell.

A LIFEFORCE helicopter soon flew Jad to Children's Hospital at Erlanger for extra care. Jad's parents say it was their 'worst nightmare' to not be flying with their son.

Copperhead bites Tennessee preschooler during camping trip (Photo: Stacey Pollom)

A day after he was admitted, Stacey Pollom posted an update on Facebook.

So thankful our buddy is stable and asking for paw patrol and his best friend Oliver,' Pollom wrote. 'Thank you Jesus for modern medicine, sweet family, and incredible health care professionals.

Jad stayed in the hospital for 3 days, and he's now home.

Copperhead bites Tennessee preschooler during camping trip (Photo: Stacey Pollom)

WTVC outdoors correspondent Richard Sims spoke about the dangers of copperheads.

He said while the majority of snakes in Tennessee don't have dangerous venom, copperheads are more out and about this time of year.

Odds are, you will walk by one totally unseen and totally unaware that that snake was there,' Simms told us. 'However, because they are so well camouflaged, and they are not aggressive. They're not going to bother you if you don't bother them.

Simms stresses how important it is for parents of kids who are Jad's age that they should steer clear and not touch any kinds of snakes they may see -- at least until they're old enough to learn the difference between the venomous and non-venomous kinds.

Simms praised Jad's father for taking a photo of the snake, which helped speed up his medical care significantly.

There are different antivenoms depending upon what kind of snake it is. So medical professionals would like to know. They don't have to know it, but it would help them a lot if they know it.

Simms says in some cases, a venomous snake could bite you - but not inject any venom into your body.

But he said that's not something to count on and you should seek medical attention the moment you realize you've been bitten.

Copperhead bites Tennessee preschooler during camping trip (Photo: Stacey Pollom)

Simms also poked some holes in common myths about treating a snake bite.

You read all the myths you've heard seen in the movies about using a knife and cutting around the wound and "sucking the venom out" and putting a tourniquet on and all of that. That that's not necessary. I mean, just get the medical help. In some cases, people do more damage to themselves trying to treat the snake bite than they would have from the snake bite.

As for Jad, he's smiling again and on the mend, and he and his family will keep a close eye out for snakes the next time they hit the great outdoors.