Content

• Steps

The key to surviving a poisonous snake bite is to stay calm and seek immediate medical help. When the snake bites, they inject the venom (poison) into the victim's body. If left untreated, the bite can be fatal. But if the victim is quickly injected with anti-snake venom, it will help prevent and reverse serious harm.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Responding Quickly and Calmly

1. 

   Call emergency services. In Vietnam, this number is 112, 911 in the US, 999 in the UK, and 000 in Australia. The key to survival from a venomous snake bite is to inject an antivenom as soon as possible.
   • Call the emergency number even if you're not sure if the snake that bit you is a poisonous snake. Do not wait until symptoms appear. If it is a venomous snake, its venom can spread while you wait.
   • The emergency services operator will decide if they should send an ambulance / helicopter to help you or if you should go to the nearest emergency room yourself.
   • In the second case, you should have someone drive you to the hospital. Do not drive yourself. When the venom is released, it can cause blurred vision, difficulty breathing, and paralysis and thereby make it difficult to drive.

2. 

   
   
   Describe the snake that bit you to the emergency service operator. When you call for help, you can describe the snake to the operator. This will allow them to prepare an anti-venom serum that is suitable for your situation, but medical staff will need to consult a Poison Control specialist to choose choose the most suitable treatment. Give as much information about the snake's features as possible.
   • How long is it?
   • How big is it?
   • What's its color like?
   • What is the shape of a snake head? Is it triangular?
   • What is the shape of a snake's pupil? Are they round or have vertical stripes?
   • If your friend can quickly take a photo of the snake that bit you while you are calling for emergency services, take that picture with you.
   • Do not try to get rid of the snake to take it with you. This is very dangerous because you run the risk of getting bitten again, you are just wasting your precious time getting an antivenom, and the more you move and use. The more strength you have, the more the venom will quickly spread to your entire body.
   • Some serums are good at anti-snake venom polyvalent - means that it is resistant to many different types of venom.

3. 

   
   
   Keep calm. Do your best to stay calm, unmoving, and silent the entire time you are traveling to the hospital or waiting for an ambulance. The faster your heart beats, the faster the blood flow to the bitten area, causing the venom to spread faster.
   • The bite will usually swell. You should quickly remove any jewelry and tight clothing.
   • Lower the bitten area below the heart to reduce the venom from spreading to the rest of the body.
   • If you were bitten in an arm or leg, splint them to limit movement. This method will help prevent you from moving the area without your knowledge. You do not want to increase the circulation of the poison at the site of the bite.
   • If you know someone strong enough to carry you, ask them for help to reduce the venom's spread when walking.
   • If you have to walk, try to limit your energy use by not carrying any other items (such as a backpack).

4. 

   
   
   Allow blood to flow from the wound. Initially, the amount of blood will bleed quite a lot because snake venom often contains anticoagulants. If the snake bite is deep enough for the blood to shoot (eg, the bite touches the main force and you are losing blood fairly quickly), quickly apply pressure to the wound.
   • Although some sources say it is okay to wash the wound or near the wound with soap and water, many advice is against this because it is assumed that traces of venom are in or around the wound. The wound can help your health professional determine the type of snake that bit you to choose the best antivenom.
   • Cover the bite with a clean and non-medicated bandage.

5. 

   Watch for symptoms of the bite. The symptoms may vary depending on the snake that bit you, the severity of the bite, and the amount of venom injected into the wound. Symptoms include:
   • Redness, discoloration, and / or swelling around the wound
   • Extreme pain or burning sensation
   • Vomiting
   • Diarrhea
   • Lower blood pressure
   • Dizziness or fainting
   • Shortness of breath
   • Blurred vision
   • Headache
   • Saliva flow
   • Sweating, fever, and thirst
   • Numbness or tingling in the face or limbs
   • Loss of coordination
   • Stutter
   • Swelling of the tongue and throat
   • Stomachache
   • Weakness
   • Rapid pulse
   • Convulsions
   • Shock
   • Paralyze
   • dizziness

6. 

   Consider your options if you are located quite far from the medical center. Nowadays, almost every cell phone has a GPS function that makes it possible for rescue workers and medical teams to locate you even when you are hiking in a remote area, Therefore, you should call the emergency services to discuss the method you can use. Remember, the most effective treatment is an anti-venom serum. Without it, the bite could be fatal and cause permanent injury. If you are unable to contact emergency services, you can:
   • Continue walking until you reach a place where you can call for help. If you do this, try to do it as quickly as possible, but also make sure you minimize your energy use. If you have a friend with you, ask them to carry a backpack for you.
   • If walking is not the right option for you, wash the wound with soap and water to minimize the risk of infection.
   • Bandage around hands and feet at a distance of about 5 - 10 cm from the bite to limit, but not completely eliminate, blood circulation. You still have to maintain finger movement. This will help slow the venom spread without destroying your limbs.
   • If you have a first aid kit for snake bites with a suction pump, use according to the manufacturer's instructions. Many sources claim that the device will not be effective at removing the venom and will waste your precious time, but if you cannot get the antivenom in time, this is The method is well worth the effort.
   • Rest and stay calm. Lower the bitten area below the heart position to slow venom spread. Snakes don't always inject reading venom into their victims every time they bite, but if they do, they will inject a sizable amount of the poison. You might get lucky.
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Part 2 of 3: Identifying Actions to Avoid

1. 

   Don't use cold compresses or ice packs. Ice or cold compresses can reduce blood circulation, causing the venom to build up in your tissues, and this can damage them.

2. 

   Leave the wound alone. Don't interrupt it. This is usually done before using a suction device, but it increases the risk of infection.
   • Because snake fangs are usually curved in shape, the venom is usually not injected into the place you think it will be.
   • Snake venom may have begun to spread.

3. 

   Do not try to suck the venom out with your mouth. Infusing the venom into your mouth can be dangerous because you will likely swallow it through the diaphragm in your mouth. And in the process, you can spread more bacteria from the mouth to the wound, increasing your risk of infection.
   • Most of the toxins will be absorbed into your body, so you should seek medical help as soon as possible.
   • Although some sources recommend using an aspirator, many other controversies claim that it will not be effective.

4. 

   Take only prescription medications. Do not take any other medications or pain relievers unless directed to do so by your doctor. Medicines are not a substitute for anti-venom serum.

5. 

   Do not use electric shocks or stun guns for the wound. They can harm you and have not been shown to work.

6. 

   Do not use syrup. Minimizing blood circulation will cause the venom to accumulate in the area of ​​the bite causing tissue damage and complete blockage of circulation, which can damage your arms or legs.
   • Consider applying a pressure bandage about 5 - 10 cm above the bite to slow the venom spread if you cannot get to a medical center quickly. However, this method will also cause the venom to concentrate in this area, increasing the risk of organ damage.
   • Do not completely eliminate blood circulation in your hands or feet.
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Part 3 of 3: Preventing Snakes

1. 

   Don't poke snakes. If you see snakes, walk around them and keep a good distance from them. Snakes can move very quickly when attacking.
   • If you hear the sound of a rattlesnake, remove the area immediately.
   • Most snakes will try to evade you if possible.
   • Do not disturb or use a stick to poke snakes.
   • Don't try to catch snakes.

2. 

   Wear thick boots and snake-bite socks. Snake-bite socks are leather socks that you can stack over your shoes, which will help protect your feet from snakebites. They are heavy enough for you to use while hiking and quite hot, but well worth protecting you from snake bites. You can find socks specifically designed to prevent snake bites.
   • Protective shoes and snake-bite socks are very important tools when hiking at night because you can step on a snake without even realizing it.

3. 

   Stay away from tall grass. The tall grass will make it difficult for you to recognize your step and see if you are near a snake or not. If you are forced to go through an area of ​​tall grass, where snakes can shelter, you should use a long stick to sweep across the area of ​​grass growing in front of you. The stick will help put the grass aside so that you can recognize the snake's presence and cause it to panic and run away.

4. 

   Should not remove rocks and trees. Do not move the rock and the tree log, as this is where the snake usually lurks underneath. If you need to do so, you should use a long cane and do not put your hand in any holes that you cannot clearly see inside.
   • If you are gardening in an area where poisonous snakes live, wear thick gloves to protect your hands. It is best to use long leather gloves to protect your arm, not just your hands.

5. 

   Find out how to identify venomous snakes in your area. To protect yourself, you need to find out what the poisonous snakes look like in your area and be extra careful to avoid them if you see them. Also, remember to always carefully observe and listen for the clicking sounds of rattlesnakes. If you hear this sound, get away from the area as quickly as possible! advertisement