DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. -- A Douglas County deputy who was trying to protect several kids from a rattlesnake was bit in the hand by that snake and suffered a severe reaction to the venom, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said.

Edward Roberson, a patrol deputy, remains at Parker Adventist Hospital in good condition even though the bite occurred last Friday.

Roberson was called to the Pradera subdivision of Parker at about 3:30 p.m. on the report of a rattlesnake in the roadway. He saw that there were several kids in the area so he decided to remove the rattlesnake. The snake bit him and he started having a severe reaction to the snake bite while he was in his patrol car, said Douglas county spokeswoman deputy Cocha Heyden.

He called his supervisor for help, but as he was having his severe reaction, his patrol car, which was still on and in gear, lurched forward and crashed in a field, Heyden said. A resident in the area was able to turn the car off and assist the deputy until medical arrived.

Roberson has been with the sheriff's office for almost three years and is currently assigned to the patrol division.

Douglas County is home to only one native venomous snake, the prairie rattlesnake. A bite from a prairie rattlesnake should always be considered a medical emergency because the snake may inject varying amounts of toxic venom, authorities said.

Sheriff Dave Weaver and Douglas County Park Rangers want to remind people about the potential dangers of rattlesnakes and what to do if they encounter a snake.

If at all possible, snakes should be avoided. But some bites, such as those that occur when accidentally stepping on a snake, are nearly impossible to prevent. Experts say that taking a few precautions will lower the risk of being bitten:

Leave snakes alone. Many people are bitten because they try to kill the snake or get a closer look.

Stay out of tall grass unless wearing thick leather boots, and remain on hiking paths as much as possible.

Keeps hands and feet out of areas you can't see. Don't pick up rocks or firewood unless you are out of the snake's striking distance.

Be cautious and alert when climbing rocks.

If you suddenly encounter a snake and if you must walk around the snake, give it some room -- at least six feet. Otherwise, walk away.

For more information about snake bites and how they can initially be treated, please check out the Douglas County Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Guide on the Emergency Management page of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Web site.