Teach Yourself How To Deal With A Venomous Snake Bite

Snake bites are classed as any injury where the fangs of a snake penetrate the skin

. There is a wide range of venomous snakes throughout the world, which release a deadly poison through their fangs. The snake is more often than not only trying to protect itself. However for the human this can often come at a deadly cost. More and more humans are moving into their territory, which is causing the amount of attacks to increase.

The majority of snakebite injuries are caused by three types of venomous snakes: vipers; kraits and cobras. Different snakes have different types of venom and therefore different symptoms. Local knowledge can be a key element in identifying the snake and hence the antivenom required to treat the bite.

First Aid for snakebites is a disputed subject and varying opinions remain. Previous techniques insisted on applying pressure and the use of tourniquet bandages to limit the movement of the poison. However research now strongly questions these techniques and in fact suggests it could cause further complications.

Treatment for different snakebites varies considerably, but there are key common first aid guidelines. The first is obviously to prevent further contact with the snake. Yes, it can be beneficial to identify the snake species and therefore the antivenom required, but not at the cost of another bite. It is also important to remember that only a few poisonous snakes are really dangerous to humans and often venom is not injected when they strike. Recent studies have found that only 20 to 30 per cent of rattlesnake bites prove venomous.

Another important factor is to keep the casualty as calm as possible. Increased anxiety and stress levels will inevitably increase blood flow and circulate the poison to other areas of the body. It is also recommended to keep the injured limb below the level of the heart, again to reduce blood flow.

It is generally advisable to clean the puncture wound quickly with soap and boiling water. Venom from spitting cobras must always be washed away immediately to avoid contact with the eyes or other bodily orifices.

Remove restrictive footwear, clothing or other items such as watches that could constrict the wound when the area swells. It is important to keep the casualty as still as possible and avoid giving them anything to eat or drink. The worse possible consumption is alcohol, as this would dilate the blood vessels and accelerate the absorption of the poison.

Despite common myths it is not advisable to cut the injured site and evidence has found that attempts to suck the poison out are in vain. In fact an incision at the injured site is simply likely to cause further infection.

As with all first aid emergencies one of the most important actions is to seek professional medical help as soon as possible. Often the effects of a snake bite can take several hours to show in victim, but the quicker the casualty gets to hospital the more likely they are to make a full recovery.

It is true that the most deadly snakes in the World such as the Taipan can kill a human within one hour. However attacks from these snakes are very rare and they will avoid human contact at all cost. The basic first aid guidelines described within this article, along with prompt medical treatment will generally minimize long term damage to the victim.

by: Geoff Goond

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