What to do if you get bit by a venomous snake?

Question

I am an avid nature lover (not to be confused with some whacko tree hugger!) and today I happened upon two venomous snakes...

I'm not planning on getting bit by them in the future, but I would like to atleast know what to do if that ever does happen.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Sophiesmom: Where were you that you happened upon so many snakes and were bitten?  My friend has kept venomous snakes for over 30 years and been bitten ONCE....and he handles them on a regular basis as part of his job. To just be walking around and get bitten 3 times is insane. They had to be in different places as we don't have Southerns and Western diamondbacks in the same region.  Southern Pacifics are mainly found in S. California from  south of Bakersfield to San Diego.  Western Diamondbacks are found in Arizona bordering California and slightly further east.  I've never seen a western diamondback in all the years of living in California, although I've had my share of Southern pacifics.  Are you saying you never went to the hospital?  Your mom just put baking soda on there?  As far as tourniquets...NEVER use one for a snake bite or any other injury unless you'll die without it.  Modern snake bite protocols call for immediate medical treatment. If you can't get there right away, a constricting band (not a tourniquet) that will slow the bloodflow can be placed above the bite. Cutting, sucking out venom and all the other silly things people used to do are not recommended.  Staying calm, keeping the limb below the heart and getting to a hospital are.

Answer 2

Make sure you carry a cell phone.  If bitten, call 911.

If help will be a while, tie a tounequet above the bite, below the heart.  remain calm and wait for help.

Answer 3

Get a really good view of the snake... a picture helps...

    *  Wash the bite with soap and water.

    * Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart.

    * Get medical help.

Then get to the hospital right away!



What not to do

    *  No ice or any other type of cooling on the bite. Research has shown this to be potentially harmful.

    * No tourniquets. This cuts blood flow completely and may result in loss of the affected limb.

    * No electric shock. This method is under study and has yet to be proven effective. It could harm the victim.

    * No incisions in the wound. Such measures have not been proven useful and may cause further injury.

Answer 4

if you have a belt or rope on hand wrap it about a foot away from the bite and suck on the bite and then imedeatly call 911 and try to get to the hospital as soon assoon as possibal

Answer 5

Well...I have been bitten, not once, not twice but three occasions...I believe I'm a venom attractor.  First bite to my wrist baby diamond back which to this day i still have problems with, i got venom.  Sick for 5 days and oh the pain.  

second bite some venom, third a dry bite.  Depending what time of year and the age of the snake, you could get bit and no venom.  Now you should never cut yourself as some may say, snakes teeth do not go straight in...if you look they are curved.  The only thing you may get from cutting is an infection.  Lets say you out hiking and you get bit, lets look at what you have with you that can help you.  If you have a phone, great, if you have reception even better, call for help.  Also prior to walking make sure someone knows which way your going and when to expect you back.  Ok so you get bit now what?  First thing is stay calm, you dont want theat adrenalin pumping so its pumping that poision in your body.  Ok so your wearing clothes i hope, maybe a belt.  What you need to do is apply a tourniquet above the bite (use a tube sock, your shirt, a belt), below it solves nothing.  Now we dont want you to lose a limb by restricting blood flow, so be careful loosen and tighten back up.  Now most do not have a severe reaction to the bite and depending on the breed of venomous snake.  I never had antivenom, got sick, but didnt need the the stuff. 2 of mine were Western Diamondbacks, 1 Southern Pacific

Best thing to do is not hike alone, or stick you hand in a wood pile, or walk with sunglasses on...I swear i didnt see the snakes, well one i took the bite grabing my dog out of the way LOL  I didnt use a tourniquet, mom put baking soda and water made a paste, i think she thinks i got stung by a bee, she doesnt see to well LOL It did weirdly make it feel better.  You'll need a few days rest after the bite, heck your to sick to do anything....LOL

Answer 6

well if it ever happens:treat it immediately. Some people wait to see if maybe the symptoms go away. That is the biggest mistake you can make. These cases are considered medical emergencies so you shouldn't wait at all. According to the American Red Cross you should:

-wash the bite with soap and water ( this sounded weird to me at first)

-Don't move the area where you were bitten and keep it lower than the heart.

-and of course, get medical help. if you cant get to a hospital fast enough, tie a bandage about 4 inches above the bite to slow down the venom, but not too tight to prevent blood flow(rule of thumb:you should be able to slip a finger under it)

and use a suction device to suck out all the venom. They usually sell these with snake bite kits.

well thats all i know about this....Hope it helped.

and hope it never happens...be careful out there...bye!

Answer 7

Go to the hospital ASAP. Depending on the venom, it could cause paralisis or even death. So get to a hospital and get and anti-venom vaccination!

Answer 8

Absolutely no joke,  put urine on the bite.

Answer 9

that depends on the fact of what kin of snake it is

Answer 10

What you wanna do is clean the wound first. (Pour some water over it) Secondly, you want to bandage the puncture wound TIGHTLY, so the blood flow is restricted. Then you call for emergency medical assistance.

Answer 11

cut off the circulation  in that digit and cut your self in the oppisit side of blood flow for the poison to drain out..

Answer 12

NEVER EVER EVER EVER wash off the venom.

U need to leave it so the doctors can tell which species of snake has bitten yo so they can use the correct anti venom.

If you have a bandage, completely bandage the limb that has been bitten. for example if you have been bitten on ur finger, completely bandage you whole arm.

If you dont have a bandage, use clothing.

once you have immobilised the bite, call the emergency number.

its also very important not to  move to much because the venom will spread around your  body faster.

Answer 13

Cut off the circulation above the snake bite and someone needs to suck the poison out yes by mouth until emergency services arrive.