The traditional rhyme helps distinguish coral snakes from similar-looking harmless snakes, but experts now recognize this method has serious limitations. True coral snakes have red bands directly touching yellow/white bands, with both red and black bands being roughly the same width, separated by narrower yellow/white bands that completely encircle the body including the belly. The black snout followed by a yellow band is a more reliable identifier than color patterns alone.
Harmless look-alikes like scarlet kingsnakes and milk snakes typically have red bands touching black bands instead of yellow, and often have red snouts rather than black. However, the rhyme fails completely outside the United States and should never be used for identification in Central America, South America, or other regions where different coral snake species exist.
The safest approach is maintaining distance from any snake with red, yellow, and black banding regardless of pattern, and seek medical attention for any bites from a snake of this type. Professional wildlife experts use multiple physical characteristics including head shape, scale patterns, and geographic location rather than relying solely on color mnemonics.
About the Author
COLIN LITTLE, MD FAWM
EDUCATION
WILDERNESS MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP AUG 2018 – JULY 2019
University of Utah, Salt Lake City Utah
CHIEF RESIDENT JULY 2017 – JUNE 2018
Stanford / Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Stanford California
EMERGENCY MEDICINE RESIDENCY JUNE 2018
Stanford / Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Stanford California
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE MAY 2015
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MATHEMATICS MAY 2002
Harvey Mudd College, Claremont California
EMPLOYMENT
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER MAY 2025 - PRESENT
JULY 2024 – PRESENT
GOES Health
Oversaw medical strategy, content, and partnership relationships for GOES Health, a leader in outdoor health and safety specializing in AI based, physician verified outdoor and environment medical preparation, planning and response. Responsible for all medical content and guidelines. Developed AI systems to quickly produce accurate, easily verifiable and maintainable medical information that ensures reliable, informative, engaging and evidence based medical content.
FACULTY – CLINICAL SKILLS EVALUATOR, DOCTORING JULY 2024 – PRESENT
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Served as faculty evaluator for MS1 and MS2 students as part of the Doctoring curriculum focusing on communication, interview skills, and physical exam development at the pre-clinical level. Also taught point of care ultrasound skills to the MS1 and MS2 students and assisted with clinical simulation cases during the 2025 Transitions course.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR SEPT 2019 – SEPT 2022
Oregon Health and Science University
Attending physician primarily at Adventist Health, a community high-acuity urban emergency department with an annual census of approximately 50,000 patients with an admission rate of 20%, 15-20% critical care time and 10% pediatrics. Also served as attending physician at the main academic OHSU emergency department. Supervised medical students, residents, PA/NP providers and other learners at both Adventist and the main academic OHSU emergency department.
DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL INFORMATICS JULY 2020 – JULY 2021
Oregon Health and Science University Emergency Department
Oversaw all aspects of clinical informatics and EPIC EMR operations for the OHSU emergency departments including Columbia Memorial Hospital, Mid-Columbia Medical Center, Hillsborough Medical Center, and the primary OHSU Emergency Department. Reported to the OHSU CHIO regarding impacts of informatics on the emergency department. Served on the OHSU ED Core Leadership Team regarding EMR and informatics operations.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - WILDERNESS MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP JAN 2020 – JULY 2022
Wilderness Medicine Fellowship – Oregon Health and Science University
Co-led a one-year fellowship program open to all graduates of accredited emergency medicine residencies. This program focuses on wilderness prehospital care and medical direction of search and rescue teams in addition to covering a wide range of fundamental wilderness medicine topics. Responsible for curriculum development, fellow recruitment, and mentoring fellows in wilderness medicine research.
WILDERNESS MEDICINE FELLOW / VISITING INSTRUCTOR AUG 2018 – JULY 2019
University of Utah Division of Emergency Medicine
Served as attending physician at the University of Utah Emergency Department, University of Utah South Jordan ED, and Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County ED in Rock Springs Wyoming. Ran wilderness medicine journal club and environmental medicine conference sessions in Utah as well as educational programs and simulation sessions for emergency residents and general medical staff at the National Referral Hospital Emergency Department in Bhutan. Research and education were focused on avalanche care, search and rescue medical protocols, physiology of ultramarathon runners, and high-altitude medicine.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SPECIALIST AUG 2018 – JULY 2019
University of Utah Division of Emergency Medicine
Assistant Medical Director for Summit County EMS, Utah. Provided medical care during transport of critical patients by helicopter and fixed-wing transport with Utah AirMed. Provided quality assessment/improvement for AirMed and Summit County EMS including monthly education programs and protocol review. Provided on and offline medical support for expeditions as part of Wilderness and Expedition Medical Specialists. Worked with the Bhutan Emergency Aeromedical Retrieval helicopter service based in Thimphu, Bhutan on protocols and paramedic education.
ASSISTANT UNIT LEADER, MEMBER OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS APRIL 2007 – JULY 2018
Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit, San Mateo County, California
Operations Leader for an all-volunteer search and rescue team operating in the Bay Area and throughout the state of California. Assistant Unit Leader and Member of the Board of Directors in 2010 – 2011. Team medical advisor from 2015 – 2018. Designed and delivered training programs for basic and advanced high angle technical rescue, basic and advanced search skills, and wilderness medical care.
RESCUE TECHNICIAN APRIL 2012 – APRIL 2013
Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association, Maricopa County, Arizona
Worked with the all-volunteer SAR team operating throughout Maricopa County and the state of Arizona. Trained in basic and advanced helicopter operations including medical care during short-haul transport, winch operations, and difficult landing environments.
PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN JUNE 2009 – JUNE 2011
UCSF Medical Center Emergency Department
Performed EMT level medical care in the UCSF Parnassus Emergency Department.
RESEARCH SCIENTIST JANUARY 2008 – FEBRUARY 2009
Trinity Novel Antifraud Team– eBay Inc.
Created machine learning algorithms to mine data from eBay, PayPal, and Skype to predict and prevent fraudulent activity as part of a newly created novel antifraud department.
ANALYTIC SCIENCE – SCIENTIST II MAY 2003 – NOVEMBER 2007
Core Algorithm Research and Development – FICO.
Developed new algorithms and techniques for predictive analytics for use by the FICO credit scoring departments. Taught modelling and statistical education throughout the USA and Bangalore, India, receiving the highest rating of any member of the FICO education team.
AWARDS / GRANTS / ACHIEVEMENTS
2020: Faculty Supervisor – Wilderness Medicine Society Researcher-In-Training Grant
2019: Winner: GME Lecture Series: Wilderness Medicine Society Winter Conference
2018: Outstanding Research Award – Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
Awarded to the graduating resident with the greatest research accomplishments.
2015: Pillar of Leadership Award – University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Awarded to the graduating student with the greatest commitment to leadership.
2015: Robert F. Crawford Award – University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Awarded to the top 3 graduating students each year.
2010: Searcher of the Year Award – Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit
Awarded to the volunteer with the greatest contribution to field operations each year
2005: Innovation Award – Fair Isaac Core Analytics Research and Development
2005: Co-inventor on two patents for "Peacock: A Novel Approach to Retail Optimization"
PUBLICATIONS
"Avalanche airbag post-burial active deflation - The ability to create an air pocket to delay asphyxiation and prolong survival." Resuscitation. 2020 Jan 1;146.
"Accuracy of Estimated Creatinine in Multi-stage Ultramarathon Runners". Wilderness and Environmental Medicine Journal. 2019 Jun;30(2):129-133
"Incidence and Prevalence of Acute Kidney Injury During Multi-Stage Ultramarathons." Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. 2016 Jul;26(4):314-9.
"Accuracy of Acute Kidney Injury Measurements in Multi-State Ultramarathon Runners." Abstract: Academic Emergency Medicine. May 2016. 23:S229.
"Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia and Body Weight Changes among Runners in a 250-km Multi-Day Multi-Stage Ultramarathon." Abstract: Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. March, 2014; 24(2): 169.
PRESENTATIONS
"Up the Waterspout: Envenomations that Crawl and Fly" Wilderness Medicine Society Winter Conference, Feb 2021 (Invited).
"How to Die Roped Up." Wilderness Medicine Society Winter Conference, March 2020. Top 5th percentile in audience feedback.
"Wound Care in Austere Environments." Interactive workshop. Wilderness Medicine Society Winter Conference, March 2020.
"Wilderness Medicine Bootcamp." Interactive workshop. Wilderness Medicine Society Winter Conference, March 2020.
"How to Die Roped Up." GME Lecture Series. Wilderness Medicine Society Winter Conference, Feb 2019. Winner of Best GME Lecture.
"Why You'll Love Having Your Job Stolen by a Computer." ACEP 2017 New Speaker Competition. October 2017.
"Accuracy of Acute Kidney Injury Measurements in Multi-Stage Ultramarathon Runners." Poster/Abstract Presentations: Western Regional SAEM Conference, April 2016. SAEM National Conference, May 2016. Global Congress of Wilderness Medicine, August 2016. Stanford Research Day July 2016.
"Interchangeability of the I-Stat Point of Care Analyzer with Central Laboratory Testing in an Emergency Department Setting." Scholarly Project: UA College of Medicine – Phoenix. Poster Presentation April 2015.
"A Rural Experience for Medical Students – The Rural Health Professions Program and the ACP" Poster Presentation. 2012 Arizona Chapter of the ACP Annual Meeting. November 2012.
"Improved Computer Software for the Teaching of Ordinary Differential Equations: The ODE Toolkit in the Classroom Setting". International Conference for the Teaching of Mathematics. July 2002. Crete, Greece.
TEACHING/EDUCATION
November 2020: "Emergency Medicine in Bhutan" Global Health Journal Club, OHSU
August 2020: "Future EM Resident Roundtable" UA College of Medicine – Phoenix
May 2020: "Latest guidelines on water treatment in austere settings" Wilderness Medicine Fellowship Journal Club
January 2020: "Imaging in management of kidney stones" APP journal club, OHSU
June 2020: "ACLS in the Emergency Department" Bhutan EM Residency
June 2020: "Chest Tube and Pericardiocentesis simulation training" Bhutan EM Residency
June 2020: "Point of Care Ultrasound in the Emergency Department" Bhutan EM Residency
April 2019: "Water purification" Advanced Wilderness Life Support Course – Univ of Utah
April 2019: "STEMI mimics in pre-hospital care" Summit County EMS Education Meeting
March 2019: "Meningitis" Summit County EMS Education Meeting
February 2019: "Neonatal Resuscitation" Summit County EMS Education Meeting
January 2019: "Closed Head Injuries" Ski Patrol Educational Meetings: Grand Targhee WY and Jackson Hole WY
January 2019: "Pediatric Respiratory Distress" Summit County EMS Monthly Education Meeting
December 2018: "Field Management of Pelvic Fractures" Summit County EMS Education Meeting.
November 2018: "Hypothermia Prevention and Management", University of Utah EM Residency Conference
October 2018: "Pediatric Toxicology – 1 pill can kill", "Advanced Defibrillation – Dual Sequential Defib in EMS settings", Summit County EMS Education Meeting
September 2018: "Field Management of Pneumothorax", Summit County EMS Education Meeting
June 2018: "Wilderness Patient Assessment", "Wilderness Wound Care", Envision Middle/High School Instructor Training, Washington DC
June 2018: "My Favorite Mistake" Chief Resident Didactics Lecture. Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
October 2017, October 2018: Lead instructor and curriculum developer for the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit annual wilderness medicine training
April 2017, October 2017: Advanced Wilderness Life Support Instructor, Stanford CA
August 2017: "De-escalation and Management of Agitated and Aggressive Patients" Chief Resident Lecture. Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
April 2017: "Latest Research on the Management of Kidney Stones" Didactics Lecture. Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
March 2017: "Latest Research on the Management of Upper GI Bleeds" Didactics Lecture. Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
November 2016: "Seizure Management" Didactics Lecture. Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
March 2016: "A Case of Traumatic Septic Bursitis" Didactics Lecture. Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
October 2015: "Systemic Infections and Sepsis" Didactics Lecture. Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
2011: "Self-Rescue. What to do if You Get Lost in the Wild" Sierra Club Invited Lecture
2009: "Fundamentals of Search and Rescue" SURG 223: Wilderness Medicine. Stanford University
2004 – 2007: Curriculum design and instruction for FICO in-house educational seminars. Designed and delivered courses on statistical modeling throughout the United States and in Bangalore, India. Received the highest evaluations among all educators at FICO
ADMINISTRATIVE / PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
2020 – 2021: Core Leadership team. OHSU Emergency Department
2017 – 2018: Chief Resident. Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
2017: Joint EM/IM Admissions Committee. Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
2016 – 2017: Off-service Rotation Committee. Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
2016: Stanford ED Workflow Committee. Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency
2015 – 2017: Resident Safety Committee. Stanford University Hospital
2011 – 2015: UA College of Medicine – Phoenix Rural Health Professions Program
2015: UA College of Medicine – Phoenix Admissions Committee
Peer reviewer for Wilderness and Environmental Medicine
Wilderness Medicine Society GME Committee member
CERTIFICATIONS
Board Certified Emergency Physician
Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine
EPIC Advanced Physician Builder
WMI: Wilderness First Responder (Wilderness Upgrade for the Medical Professional)
Advanced Wilderness Life Support Instructor
NASAR: Managing the Lost Person Incident
Incident Command System 100, 200, 300, and 700
