What can be done to help somebody who has been biten by a snake?

Question

I'm just wondering in case it ever happened.

Answer 1

whatever you do... DO NOT try to suck the venom. stay calm....

Snakebite Treatment for Pit Vipers
1. General support/reassurance; keep the victim calm; move the individual away from the snake, if possible; do not try to kill the snake—two people being bitten is worse and you cannot aid the first victim (note: amputated snake heads can still bite as a reflex).
2. Minimize all activity.
3. All jewelry, rings, bracelets and watches should be removed immediately.
4. Do not incise the wound as this causes more tissue damage.
5. Do not use electrical shock at the bite site as that has been shown not to work.
6. Sawyer extractor kits are controversial. Studies on pigs have shown little to no effect, while others recommend to only use the suction device if you can reach the victim in the first 3 minutes.
7. Do not suction with your mouth as the bacterial in your mouth will most likely cause more harm.
8. Apply cool compresses, not ice.
9. Australian Wrap TechniqueThe Australian wrap method has proven benefit. Please see diagram. Do not wrap too tightly, but similar to wrapping a sprain.
10. Splint is very important. Immobilize the extremity, maintain the extremity at heart level, do not elevate above heart level.
11. Do not use Anti-venom in the outdoors. Many have anaphylactic type reactions from the anti-venom.
12. Transport, transport, transport.
13. Call ahead if possible to the ER. Many emergency rooms do not stock anti-venom and they may need to fly anti-venom in.
14. Anti-venom is very, very expensive. When traveling into the outdoors for an extended period of time, check into search and rescue insurance. Many times anti-venom is covered. It is as cheap as $12-20 for a weekend, and is well worth it if something unfortunate should occur.

Snakebite Treatment for Coral Snakes
1. Remember, bite symptoms from this snake are usually delayed.
2. In this situation, if possible, it could be very helpful to capture the snake for identification purposes since it does mimic the king snake.
3. The Australian wrap method is highly touted for this bite.
4. Transport, transport, transport.
5. All other treatment for the coral snake should be the same as for the pit viper.

Answer 2

First off, there are two kinds of venom and you will most likely not know what you're dealing with. The worst thing you can do is to cut the bite area and try to suck the venom out. This works in movies and cartoons but not in real life. The next worst thing you can do is to apply a tourniquet. That is an extreme measure which should not be used unless you've been trained. Use it and the victim may lose a limb and die anyway. One person posted a list of things to do which is a very good list and includes splinting and keeping the affected area/limb immobile. Read it.

Answer 3

DO NOT suck the poison. Keep the person calm and as still as possible, apply a cool compress or ice pack wrapped in a towel to the bite and get them to the ER immediately if you think the snake was poisonous or if you have no idea what kind of snake it was. If the snake was not poisonous(your friends boa or python) then clean the wound well with soap and water and use an antibiotic ointment like neosporin and bandage it like you would any cut until you can get to the doctor. If its a really bad bite it may need stitches.

Answer 4

it depends on what kind of snake.. but if you are in an area with vipers and doing something that puts you at higher risk, it's a good idea to carry a first aid kit with a snake bite kit inside... in the US so long as the person isn't severely allergic and so long as you get prompt medical attention viper bites aren't usually fatal. as for non poisonous snakes, most of them aren't a big deal and are no more serious than a lizard biting you.. but some people do get sick from bacterial infections from a few of them (black snakes as an example, those are nasty little buggers and they can be aggressive too!)
the most important thing is just to stay calm and get the person to a hospital so they can monitor them and decide if they will need the anti venom or not.
i live in the south and we have every type of poisonous snake in the US.. and I've never even heard of anyone dieing from a snake bite (locally).. the only person around who has died in a snake related incident is this.. an old man killed a rattle snake that was on his property (he didn't want it around his grand kids.. can't say i blame him) and cut it's head off.. he was going to show it to one of his friends and when he opened the tailgate the body lashed out at him.. he had a heart attack and died.......

Answer 5

Poisonous snakes leave bite marks that will resemble one or two puncture wounds, non poisonous snakes leave a horseshoe type byte. For a poisonous bite, keep the person calm, the faster the blood pumps, the quicker the poison circulates through the body. Get them to the emergency room ASAP. For non poisonous, clean the area with soap and water, apply a cool compress for pain and swelling.

Answer 6

Going to the hospital is about all that you can really do. Until you get there tie a loose tourniquet on it and elevate it. Do not apply ice as that can concentrate the venom and rot the tissue around the bite. Most bites are not venomous and just need to be looked at and probably given antibiotics to prevent infections like staph

Answer 7

The best and most important thing is to keep them calm! This will keep their blood preasure down which will slow the effect of the venom. Next get them to a hospital as quickly as possible.

Answer 8

The poison can be sucked out, a turniquet can be used to limit the blood circulation from the area of bite to rest of body, limit motion and keep heart rate down to further slow circulation and the spread of poison to the rest of body. There is actually a kit you can buy to treat snake bites.

Answer 9

i will think of of a few stable motives: a million.) via killing the snake and bringing it with you to the emergency room, the scientific institution team would be waiting to extra desirable perceive what style of snake bit you and what style of antidote to manage. 2.) via killing the snake, you ward off it from biting somebody else, possibly even saving a existence.

Answer 10

just try to tie that area with some somthing but not very tight it should be just tight and then take him to immeidate medical help if you know the type of snake it is useful to help docs to provide anti venom medicines instantly be fast and quick to seek medical help