First Aid for Snake Bite

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 21 January 2021
Update Date: 15 November 2024
Anonim
First Aid for Snake Bite
Video: First Aid for Snake Bite

Content

A snake bite can be more or less dangerous, depending on the species. What is clear is that it is never something that deserves little importance and that is why it is necessary to avoid it whenever possible.

If you suffer from a snakebite, it is essential to know what to do to avoid serious health problems. Keep reading this PeritoAnimal article and see more about forfirst aid for snake bite: what to do and what not to do in any case.

snake bite: symptoms

Snake bites put the health of the affected person at risk, regardless of whether it is a venomous snake or not. If it's a poisonous snake and it attacks you, the effects of the poison are quick and can paralyze a person and even lead to death. In cases where the attack comes from a non-poisonous specimen, you will have a wound that must be treated properly, as they are easily infected and the infection advances quickly.


You should know that most snakes are more active in the hot months, because in the cold they hibernate because they slow down and hide. But in summer you should be more careful because, easily and without realizing it, you can disturb them by invading their space, for example if you are hiking.

These are some of the most common symptoms that appear quickly after a snake bite:

  • Pain and swelling in the bite region;
  • Bleeding that takes a long time to stop;
  • Breathing difficulty;
  • Thirst;
  • Blurry vision,
  • Nausea and vomiting;
  • Weakness in general;
  • Hardening of the region where it was bitten and little by little in the areas close to the bite.

What to do in case of snake bite

The first step of first aid snake bite it is to remove the injured person from the place where he received the attack to prevent it from happening again. Then, calm down and let the person rest, it is very important that he does not make efforts or movements that accelerate the circulation of the poison in the body.


It is necessary to look for the area affected by the sting and keep it below the level in the heart to reduce the flow of venom. Remove any object such as bracelets, rings, shoes, socks, among others, that may squeeze the infected region, as it will soon swell a lot.

Snakebite First Aid: Call Emergency

If there are more people in the place, it is essential that this is the first step to gain more time. If there is no one who can help you, after leaving the attacked person stabilized, you should call the emergency medical services informing of the situation.

It is essential to try to identify which type of snake bit the person, as this will make it easier for doctors to determine if it is a poisonous species or not and, if so, to know which antidote to administer to the victim.


First Aid for Snakebite: Cleaning the Wound

With a damp cloth you should gently clean the wound to remove possible residues and prevent it from becoming infected. Then cover with a clean cloth and carefully without squeezing the wound. It is very important that this cloth does not put pressure on the wound, it is only to protect it from possible contaminants that could cause an infection.

Snakebite First Aid: Confirm Vital Signs

You should be aware of any new symptoms and vital signs of the person with the snake bite. You need to control your breathing, pulse, consciousness and temperature. You should have this information so when you get medical help you can get it. explain everything that happened and how the infected evolved.

If the person goes into shock and quickly turns pale, you should lean back and raise the leg a little above heart level to gradually recover until medical help arrives. Also, keep the attack victim hydrated by giving water slowly.

First aid for snakebites: medical attention

Once medical help arrives, let them do their work and explain everything that happened and what you observed. It is very important that the bitten person follows the rest care and treatment that have been given to finish healing the wound and stay out of harm's way after arriving at the hospital.

Snake bite: what not to do

In addition to knowing the first aid for snake bites, it is also essential know what not to do at these times:

  • Do not try to catch the snake or chase it to get a better look at it, as you have felt threatened before, it is very likely that you will attack again to defend yourself.
  • do not make a tourniquet. If you need to slow down the action of the poison to buy more time while waiting for help, you can place a 4 inch bandage over the wounds, which allows you to place a finger between the area where you bandaged it and the wound. This way, you will be sure that even though the blood flow is reduced, it will continue to circulate. You should check the pulse in this region, little by little, and observe if it reduces a lot or, if it disappears, you should loosen the bandage.
  • You should not apply cold water compresses as this would make the situation worse.
  • must not drink alcohol to help pass the pain of the snakebite victim. This will only make the bleeding more, as alcohol increases the blood flow and makes it even more difficult to stop the bleeding.
  • Do not administer any type of medication, except those prescribed by your doctor.
  • Do not suck on the wound to try to suck out the poison. It's not as effective as it sounds and you risk being infected.
  • Do not cut the wound area to make it bleed more and release the poison, this can cause an infection more easily.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.