Well congrats on your first live. I feed all 3 of mine live and they LOVE it. They are so much more interested since I started on the live. Instead of um....crushing them....you might want to thump them on the head you will stun them a bit and by the time your snake gets them they will not be able to bite.
I have been feeding live for quite a while now....I use to not thump them...but one bit my snake...did not hurt him or leave a mark. But NO WAY that is going to happen again.