If you do not have any special equipment such as a snakebite kit and do not have immediate access to medical services:
- Get the victim away from the snake. Your first priority is to make sure that neither you nor the victim receive any additional snakebites.
- Remove clothing or constricting items. Bites from venomous snakes can cause rapid and severe swelling. Remove clothing or jewelry from the area.
- Minimize activity. Higher levels of activity will increase blood flow and increase the spread of poison through the body.
- Do not cut the bite site or use your mouth to suck out the poison. These are likely to be ineffective and can increase the likelihood of infection.
- Clean the bite site with soap and water. Cover the wound with a dressing.
- Wrap the bite site with a tight elastic bandage. You can use something like an Ace bandage for this, or can fashion one from a stretchy shirt or other article of clothing. The intent of this step is to slow capillary and venous blood flow (flow back to the heart), but permit arterial blood flow (away from the heart). Check for a pulse below the overwrap. It should be present.
- Splint the bitten limb to prevent motion. Keep a the splinted extremity below the level of the heart.
- Keep the victim calm and protected from the environment. Let the victim rest until you can get him medical attention. If the victim is conscious, make him drink fluids.
Additional Tips:
- An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of first aid: Wear long pants and boots taller than the ankle. Avoid tall brush and deep, dark crevices. Make plenty of noise and vibration while walking. Do not approach snakes, avoid them. Do not expect rattlesnakes to make any noises.
- If the snake is dead, bringing it to the hospital is appropriate. Be careful, dead snakes can reflexively bite for up to an hour.
- In today's digital world, pictures are easy to get. A quick picture of the snake - even with a cell phone - will help medical crews identify the animal.
Though U.S. medical professionals may not agree on every aspect of what to do for snakebite first aid, they are nearly unanimous in their views of what not to do. Among their recommendations:
No ice or any other type of cooling on the bite. Research has shown this to be potentially harmful. The same applies for hot packs.
No tourniquets. This cuts blood flow completely and may result in loss of the affected limb.
No electric shock. This method is under study and has yet to be proven effective. It could harm the victim.
No incisions in the wound. Such measures have not been proven useful and may cause further injury.
Do not eat or drink anything unless advised by medical sources.
Do not engage in strenuous physical activity.
Do not drink any alcohol or use any medication.
Do not apply oral (mouth) suction to bite.
Do not remove dressings/elastic wraps until arrival at hospital and antivenom available.
Do not waste time or take any risks trying to kill or catch (to bring in) the snake responsible for the bite.
Snake bites can be deadly. It's important to react quickly to bites. If emergency medical services can be reached, request help through 911. If in a remote area, getting the victim to medical care is vital.
1. NO CUTTING & SUCKING! Those snake bite kits from the drug store don't work. Cutting into the wound will just create infections.
2. An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of first aid: * Wear long pants and boots taller than the ankle. * Avoid tall brush and deep, dark crevices. * Make plenty of noise and vibration while walking. * Do not approach snakes, avoid them. * Do not expect rattlesnakes to make any noises.
3. If the snake is dead, bringing it to the hospital is appropriate. Be careful, dead snakes can reflexively bite for up to an hour.
4. In today's digital world, pictures are easy to get. A quick picture of the snake - even with a cell phone - will help medical crews identify the animal. Rattlesnakes are pit vipers, identified by dents in the side of their heads that look like ears. Coral snakes are small with bands of red bordered by pale yellow or white. Cobras have hoods that spread behind their heads.
5. It's not that important to identify the snake; medical crews in areas prone to snake bites can often identify the animal just from the wound. Pit vipers have two fangs and the bite often has two small holes . Coral snakes have small mouths full of teeth with rows of small puncture wounds.
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