Kentucky paramedics risk licenses after saving man from deadly snake bite with antivenom

Two Kentucky emergency responders may face license suspensions after administering antivenom to James Harrison, a longtime snake handler who runs the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, following a Jameson’s mamba bite in May.

Harrison was bitten while working with the highly venomous green and brown Jameson’s mamba. First responders Eddie Barnes and another EMS worker arrived on the scene and treated him with antivenom as they waited for a helicopter to transport him to the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Harrison spent several days in intensive care but recovered, largely thanks to the prompt treatment.

The responders later learned that they had violated state policy. Kentucky law changed two years ago to restrict antivenom administration to wilderness medics, a move that effectively excludes non-wilderness EMS personnel from giving the antidote. Barnes and the other EMS worker had contacted the hospital before injecting the antivenom but could not reach the EMS director, a communication breakdown that organizers say may have influenced the decision to break policy.

The incident is slated for a hearing on September 30 before the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services, where Barnes and the other EMS worker will present their case for why they should be allowed to keep their licenses.

Barnes defended the decision, saying that breaking policy would be justified if it saves a life. "If we would've sat there and let him die then we would've been morally and ethically responsible and we could've been criminally charged for his death," he told Fox19.

Harrison’s wife, Kristen Wiley, said she has spoken with physicians who all agreed that the responders were heroes for acting quickly. "Every physician we've talked to about it and about the course of the bite agrees that they were heroes," she said.

Barnes reiterated that sentiment, emphasizing that he would make the same choice again. "If it came down today I would do the same thing. You can't put a price on a person's life." The hearing could determine whether the clinicians face disciplinary action, or whether the policy dispute remains unresolved.

Experts note that Jameson’s mamba—though rare in human encounters—can cause serious neurological symptoms if venom enters the bloodstream. The venom can spread rapidly, making timely antivenom crucial. Antivenom is generally effective when administered quickly, and its availability and use are common in many parts of the world for venomous snake bites. The case underscores the tension between protocol and on-the-ground judgment in emergencies, and the broader question of how policies should adapt to lifesaving actions in the field.

Regardless of the hearing outcome, Harrison’s family expressed gratitude for the responders’ actions, noting that the immediate care likely saved a life. The incident has sparked discussion about whether policy should accommodate exceptional cases where rapid antivenom administration is critical to survival, even if those actions fall outside established licensing provisions.