-
Though the bite of a
Gila Monster is exceedingly painful from the instant it is received,
many snake bites are not. Often, the victim won't even see the snake that bit
him/her. Rather, the victim will
simply feel a sudden and unexplainable sting, and the
site will likely be bleeding slightly. However, the pain will come.
-
Don't expect to see two puncture wounds for
every snake bite. Occasionally,
only one fang from a
pit viper
will puncture the skin while the other fang leaves no mark at all.
Further, some poisonous snakes such as
coral
snakes have several tiny fangs rather than two large
ones.
|
|
If you get bit, DON'T PANIC.
Many people who "died
from a snakebite" actually died from something reckless they did while in a
panicked state after being bit. |
|
Many snake bite victims have run around carelessly only to stumble over a cliff, suffer heat
stroke and died while trying to hike out in a rush, or they crash their car
while needlessly speeding to a hospital. The victim of a poison
reptile bite will often
have several hours before severe complications set in. That's enough time to
stop and see a movie on the way to the hospital (though it's not
recommended that you do). |
|
|
|
© Sawyer Products |
-
Know how to treat a poisonous bite. It is
recommended that you always carry a snakebite kit,
however, recent studies suggest these may only be moderately
effective against
pit viper
bites.
-
Nonetheless, a
snakebite kit such as the Sawyer
Extractor™ is reportedly useful for sucking out
some of the venom.
It also comes with a complete list of instructions for treating a variety of
other poisonous bites such as
spiders,
scorpions,
bees and wasps, etc.
|
General
Do's
-
Remove
everyone from risk.
-
Calm the
patient. This is far more important than you may think!
Nearly all snakebites are successfully treated in the US. Most
poisonous snake bites are not fatal. Panic only increases danger
to the victim by increasing heart rate, and it spurs carelessness
among everyone.
-
Use your
snakebite kit immediately. The first few minutes are the most
effective for venom removal. Follow the instructions provided in
the kit.
-
Seek
medical help at once. Recent studies indicate the single most
effective thing you can do is calmly transport the victim to a
medical facility. In most cases, severe complications DO NOT
occur until several hours after the bite. If you're deep in the
wild, make wise use of your time, but
don't rush.
-
Remove tight watches, sleeves, jewelry, etc.
Cut these items off if you have to. Note that rings and bracelets are
especially hazardous as they will severely restrict blood flow to their
particular extremity once swelling begins. Amputation is a likely
outcome if these items are not removed.
-
While enroute to a hospital, apply a loose
yet constricting band between the bite and the heart. This is NOT a
tourniquet and should not be any tighter than a semi-tight watch band.
-
Keep the patient still if possible and
immobilize the injured limb with a splint.
-
Treat the site like a puncture wound. If
possible, wash the wound with copious amounts of soap and water.
Once at the hospital, a doctor will likely give the patient a tetanus shot in
addition to other treatments.
-
Keep the
affected extremity at heart level or lower.
-
Avoid
alcohol. It only increases metabolism and impairs judgment.
|
General Don'ts
-
DO NOT GIVE
ANTIVENIN IN THE FIELD! Many snakebite
victims experience allergic reactions to antivenin and this potential
requires that the person giving the antivenin must be ready and able
to provide advanced heart and lung support -- something only
available at a hospital via trained medical personnel, sophisticated
machines, and powerful drugs. Further, more than six vials are
often needed to treat one bite. More drawbacks come into play
when the detrimental effects of heat and agitation (due to carrying
the vials in a backpack) are considered.
-
Don't kill the snake!
It was only defending itself and such an attempt may produce yet another
bite.
-
Don't try to capture the
snake -- it's not necessary. There are only two types of venom
-- neurotoxin and hemotoxin (antivenin for pit viper bites is the
same for all species). Based on the geographic area and the
patient's symptoms, a doctor
will usually know which type of antivenin to use.
-
NEVER cut an "X"
at the bite site. This is ineffective and increases trauma in
the area of the wound.
-
NEVER suck out venom with the mouth.
The person
sucking poison from the wound with his/her mouth will absorb the poison
through his/her gums the same way a person
absorbs nicotine from chewing tobacco.
Further, the human mouth carries at least 42
species of pathogen†
and this action could give the snakebite victim a major infection.
-
Don't
excite the victim or allow him/her to walk if
avoidable. Doing so
will increase venom circulation.
-
Never
apply a tourniquet,
constricting band, or "Australian Wrap," unless you are
well-trained in its use. As with snakebite kits, recent
studies suggest this is of no help and even detrimental. (If, for some reason you do apply one,
write a capital T (for tourniquet) on the victim's forehead AND the
TIME you applied
it. Relax it for 1 minute every 15 minutes.)
-
Do not apply
ice, a cold pack, or freon spray to the wound. This does not retard
the spread of venom.
-
Never apply
electrical stimulation from any device in an attempt to retard or reverse
venom spread. Studies show this does NOT retard or
reverse the spread of venom.
|
|
Overview -- 
