people are surprised I got a tetanus shot for a snake bite so I think it’s time to end the “you get tetanus from rusty metal” myth once and for all.

From the CDC website: “Tetanus is an infection caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani. Spores of tetanus bacteria are everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust, and manure. The spores develop into bacteria when they enter the body (source).”

Tetanus bacteria can enter your body through any break in your skin like a cut, scrape, or blister, but puncture wounds are higher risk.

It doesn’t matter how you broke the skin. It can be new metal that looks clean, it can be from a thorn, or a nail, a wooden splinter, an animal bite, or something more traumatic that inflicts a larger wound. Any way about it, you’re at risk.

1-2 in 10 cases are fatal.

Sounds wild, right? A world where we can poke our finger with a needle sewing a hole in a tshirt and die a week later?? What a nightmarescape!! How are we not all living in constant fear?

Vaccines. Vaccines!!!! If you live somewhere where you have access to vaccines, you are so fortunate! You can protect yourself! Don’t wait! While treatment post-injury is important, your body needs time to build up an immunity before you’re infected. If you’re in the US, check out your local health department. Often they do the vaccination free if you’re uninsured.

I’m not trying to fear-monger, so don’t start panicking. Just take precautions! The fact is people DO get tetanus, and it CAN BE fatal. Why risk that person being you?  

Protect yourselves!