You will not necessarily be able to determine if a snake bite is from a venomous snake by just looking at the bite. It is best to get medical help right away, no matter what the bite looks like. Remain as calm as possible. Panic will increase your heart rate and if the snake is venomous, the increased heart rate will just spread the venom through your body faster. [1] X Research source Try and stay as calm and quiet as possible. If you’re able to, call the National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) for advice while you wait. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source
Don’t try to catch the snake– snakes are very fast and unless you are an experienced snake catcher, they have the advantage. Don’t walk toward the snake or spend a lot of time trying to get a better look at it if you are still in harm’s way. This is not safe. Simply look at the snake quickly and then move away.
Move to a place where the snake is not likely to return. Find a flat boulder a bit above the path, a clearing, or another area without a lot of hiding places for snakes. Try to remain as still as possible once you have reached a safer area.
Keeping the bitten part of you below the level of your heart slows down the flow of any affected blood towards the heart, which would then pump the venom throughout your body. [4] X Research source If you can, fashion a splint to keep the area surrounding the bite from moving. Use sticks or boards and place them on either side of the bite area. Then tie a piece of cloth at the bottom, middle, and top of the boards to keep them in place.
Don’t try to cut or suck the venom out. Cutting the wound could cause more problems and increases the risk of infection. Anyone sucking out venom may actually swallow some and be poisoned themselves. Don’t use a tourniquet or use ice on the wound. Experts believe that a tourniquet could potentially restrict blood flow too much and ice can increase the damage to the wound. [5] X Research source [6] X Research source Don’t drink any alcohol or caffeine– this can increase your heart rate and spread any venom that may be there. Instead, stay hydrated with water.
The treatment will depend on any symptoms you develop. If no symptoms develop, you may still be kept for a 24-hour observation period because in some cases it takes that long for symptoms to develop. If the snake that bit you is venomous, you may get treated with antivenin (aka antivenom or antivenene). This is a combination of antibodies made to counteract snake toxins and has been shown to be safe and effective in both adults and children. Depending on symptoms, you may get more than one dose. You will also likely be prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic to make sure the wound does not get infected. A tetanus shot may also be given. For very severe snake bites, surgery may be required.
Signs of possible infection include swelling, tenderness, redness, drainage, and heat coming from the infected area, or a new fever. If you experience any of these symptoms at the site of the snake bite, call your physician as soon as possible.
If you’re out hiking and see other people, ask if they can call or go for help, or if they have a snake-bite kit of pump suction device.
Don’t treat the bite as a non-venomous bite unless you’re absolutely sure that the snake was not venomous. If there’s any doubt, it’s important to get medical attention right away.
Certain areas of the world, such as Australia, have a higher concentration of highly venomous snakes than others. Remember that venomous snakes can and do live in cities as well as the wilderness, and exercise appropriate caution.
Fangs in snakes can be fixed or folded back until the snake bites. Venomous snakes can have either type of fang, although snakes with fixed fangs, such as the coral snake, tend to affect the nervous system, while those with folded fangs, such as rattlesnakes, tend to affect blood cells. [13] X Research source [14] X Research source [15] X Research source All types of snakes have substances that can cause tissue destruction– if you get bitten by a snake, limiting this damage may be the most critical problem.
Snakes and snake bites are more common the closer you get to the equator because the snakes found in these areas don’t hibernate and are more active during the hotter days.
Don’t sleep or rest next to areas where snakes may be hiding. This includes brush, tall grass, big rocks, and trees. Don’t poke your hands into rock crevices, hollow logs, heavy brush, or any place a snake may be waiting for its next meal. Look down as you walk through any brush or tall grass. Don’t try to pick up any snake, dead or alive. Snakes have a reflex where they can bite for a minute or so after they are dead. . . strange but true! ALWAYS wear hiking boots to cover your ankles and keep your pants legs tucked into your boots. Make noise. Most snakes don’t want to see you anymore than you want to see them![17] X Research source To ensure that you don’t scare a snake, make sure they can hear you coming.
