Children are at higher risk for death or serious complications because of their smaller body size. Holding it down, can increase swelling. DO NOT apply a cold compress or ice on the bite. If you are bitten on the arm or finger remove any rings, bracelets or watches. Loosen any tight clothing in case swelling occurs.

Most species of snake are harmless but unless you are absolutely sure that you have identified the snake correctly then treat the bite seriously and apply snake bite first aid - See instructions below. The following snake bite first aid treatments have all been recommended  at one time or another but are now considered to be ineffective or outright dangerous. If you are hiking alone you may have to hike out for help. If it progresses make a new tracing noting the time of each new mark beside that new tracing. Identification of the snake can help with treatment of the snakebite. Application of a tourniquet to the bitten limb is generally not recommended. DON’T raise the wound above the heart. This cuts blood flow completely and may result in loss of the affected limb. the persons health, size, age, and psychological state. Pit viper bites may include lethargy, weakness, nausea, and vomiting. Raising it can cause venom to travel through the body quicker. This information can then be conveyed to a professional, who in turn will determine whether or not the snake is poisonous. DO NOT try to suck the venom out of the wound or cut into the bite with a knife. * Shape: This acts as an important snake identifier. the health of the snake and the interval since it last used its venom mechanism is also important. Although Australia is home to the largest number of venomous snakes in the world, it averages only one fatal snake bite per year. At the hospital, treatment will depend on the type of snake.

NO aspirin or other painkiller. Snake … The snake can be easily identified – all you have to do is take note of the identifiers I have listed above. If the snake was venomous, the person will be given anti-venom treatment. If you are alone, you should search for the help.

Then over time may develop more life-threatening symptoms such as low blood pressure, rapid breathing, severe tachycardia (heart beats very fast), altered perception of what is happening around them and respiratory failure (breathing difficulty or breathing stops). * Head: This might be a confusing snake identifier because many snakes are actually known to flatten their heads when they are threatened. Ensure they rest and help them to stay calm. Snakes found in and near water are frequently mistaken as being poisonous. DO NOT raise the wound above the heart. Even those that are fully charged do not always inject a lethal dose. This may cut blood flow completely and result in loss of the affected limb. So what I’m trying to mean here is that if you are a wanderlust and that too if you travel mostly to forest regions, then the probability of you getting bitten from a snake is very mush high. Treatment. while the slender one will include the ribbon snake, vine snake, etc. ), If it is not possible or safe to take a photo then make note of some characteristics of the snake. You can even contact us privately through the contact form or through social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ etc.

You should instead call 911, remove any tight clothing or jewelry, and move as little as possible. You have entered an incorrect email address! Minimise movement if possible. Non-venomous snakes are known to have a round pupil whereas the venomous snakes are known to have a vertical pupil similar to the cat's eye. Don't use a tourniquet, cut the bite, or suck out the venom if you're bitten by a venomous snake. DON’T apply ice to the bite… The small snakes would be up to 12 inches (30 cm) long and they would include snakes like red belly snake, brown snake. If possible, lie down and keep the bitten extremity at body level. There can be minor pain and redness in over 90% of cases, although this varies depending on the site. Thank you for reading our article and if you have any doubts/queries/suggestions, please feel free to comment below. If there is no bandage or equivalent to apply a pressure bandage make note of any inflammation by tracing the edge of the swelling with a pen or the like near/around the bite and mark the time clearly next to it. This may be because of the surrounding snakes and possible death or injury from bites which may cause the following ones: Most snake bites whether by a venomous snake or not will have any type of local effect. All Rights Reserved. Many cases in which such snake bite first aid treatments appear to work are in fact the result of dry bites (snake bites where no venom is released).

Medical Author: Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP; Medical Editor: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD; Reviewed on 5/3/2019. Call medical help immediately if possible.

Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage (see below). A bite by a North American copperheadon the ankle is usually a moderate injury to a healthy adult, but a bite to a child's abdomen or face by the same snake may be fatal. If it’s safe you can try to take a photo with your phone. * Eyes: This is rather a simply snake identification technique that can help you tell apart a poisonous from a non-poisonous one.

HACKZHUB © 2018. (Outdated snake bite first aid treatments has been summarised from wikipedia) Now you have read through snake bite first aid you may also be interested in learning about: Basic First Aid InstructionsFirst Aid Kit ChecklistsFirst Aid for Cuts and ScrapesWilderness First Aid KitFirst Aid for Fractures, Photo 1 courtesy of Matthew Hull morguefilePhoto 2 by LA Dawson - licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.Photo 3 by Hugh Lunnon - licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license. Applying pressure at the bite site with a pressure pad may be suitable in some cases. DON’T try to suck the blood out of the wound or cut the bite with a knife. The bite area may also bleed or blister. Such actions have not been proven useful. Minimize movements if possible.

NO tourniquets. This will give valuable information to medical help as to the development of the swelling. When possible arrange for transport to the nearest hospital emergency room, where anti-venom for snakes common to the area will often be available and given if required. NO tourniquets. These multiple variables make every bite unique. Raising it can cause venom to travel into the body. Cutting open the bitten area, an action often taken prior to suction, is not recommended since it causes further damage and increases the risk of infection. DO NOT use electric shock or a stun gun on the bite area. DON’T capture the snake. Immersion in warm water or sour milk, followed by the application of snake-stones (also known as la Pierre Noire), which are believed to draw off the poison in much the way a sponge soaks up water. For Privacy Policy and Disclaimer click here, © copyright 2008-2015 FirstAidAnywhere.com.

Suctioning by mouth presents a risk of further poisoning to the person doing the procedure through the mouth's mucous tissues. "Dry Bites" (a bite where no venom is injected) occur in between 25%-50% of snake bites. Again treat the bite seriously and apply snake bite first aid - See instructions below. This may help in identifying the snake. The release of bacteria from the person's mouth into the victim's wound can lead to infection at the wound site. Minimise movement if possible. Learn how your comment data is processed. Research has shown this to be potentially harmful. Traces of venom left on the skin/bandages from the wound can be used in identifying the species of snake. Although it is a true fact that snakes can be dangerous, you have to remember that they usually keep to themselves. This is the best way in aiding snake identification. Remain calm, remember most snake bites are not fatal. This method is under study and has yet to be proven effective. Snake bites by vipers and cobras are extremely painful, with local area sometimes becoming tender and swollen within 5-7 minutes. Lay or sit down with the bite in a neutral position of comfort. About 3000 venomous snake bite cases are reported every year in India. "Treatment of Australian Snake Bites". Apply a bandage to the bitten limb.

CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Other factors that influence the possible seriousness of a snake bite include. In extreme cases, where the victims were in remote areas, all of these misguided attempts using outmoded snake bite first aid treatments have  resulted in injuries far worse than an otherwise mild to moderate snakebite. Not all poisonous snakes are fully charged with venom. By the time the victim has finally reached appropriate medical facilities their limb had to be amputated.