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Snake bite

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Bites - snakes

First Aid:

1. Keep the person calm, reassuring them that bites can be effectively treated in an emergency room. Restrict movement, and keep the affected area below heart level to reduce the flow of venom.

2. If you have a pump suction device (such as that made by Sawyer), follow the manufacturer's directions.

3. Remove any rings or constricting items because the affected area may swell. Create a loose splint to help restrict movement of the area.

4. If the area of the bite begins to swell and change color, the snake was probably poisonous.

5. Monitor the person's vital signs -- temperature, pulse , rate of breathing, and blood pressure   -- if possible. If there are signs of shock (such as paleness ), lay the person flat, raise the feet about a foot, and cover the person with a blanket.

6. Get medical help immediately.

7. Bring in the dead snake only if this can be done safely. Do not waste time hunting for the snake, and do not risk another bite if it is not easy to kill the snake. Be careful of the head when transporting it -- a snake can actually bite for up to an hour after it's dead (from a reflex).

Do Not:

• DO NOT allow the person to become over-exerted. If necessary, carry the person to safety.
• DO NOT apply a tourniquet.
• DO NOT apply cold compresses to a snake bite.
• DO NOT cut into a snake bite with a knife or razor.
• DO NOT try to suction the venom by mouth.
• DO NOT give the person stimulants or pain medications unless instructed to do so by a doctor.
• DO NOT give the person anything by mouth.
• DO NOT raise the site of the bite above the level of the person's heart.

Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if:

Call for medical help if someone has been bitten by a snake. If possible, call ahead to the emergency room so that anti-venom can be ready when the person arrives.

• Review Date: 5/15/2006
• Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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