I’ve Been Bitten!
Take action before observing!
Steps of action:
- Stay calm
- Call 911 immediately – if possible, have someone else call.
- Clean the wound
- Wrap a bandage directly above the wound firmly in case of venom. In the case of no bandages, use a shirt, jacket, or any item of fabric. DO NOT USE A TOURNIQUET
- Wrap the midsection of the chest/stomach area firmly in case of venom. DO NOT USE A TOURNIQUET
- If alone and far away from easy access (such as on a hike or camping alone on a mountain trail), try to walk close enough to an area where an ambulance/medical care workers can easily reach.
- If with or near people, have someone carry you to the easy-access area
- If already in an easy-access area, stay where you are and take deep, calming breaths
- If you haven’t already wrap the wound – however, if you have an easy-to-get to pen and/or marker, make a circle around the inflamed area
- Just stay calm!
Information:
How to tell between a venomous and non-venomous bite is simple. Venomous snakes tend to leave two main, large puncture wounds while non-venomous snakes tend to leave multiple smaller marks. However, unless you are 100% sure that you were bitten by a non-venomous snake as well as could clearly see and identify the snake, still take the steps of action listed above.
Why the steps of action?
Some of the steps of action may lead to questions or disbelief, so after following them, here are the answers:
Why stay calm?
In case of venom, rapid breathing increases the heart rate, causing blood flow to quicken and the venom to spread quicker within the body.
Why wrap above the wound and below the heart?
Similar to the reasoning behind staying calm, constriction and slower blood flow will slow the venom’s progression through the body.
Why use a pen/marker to draw a circle around the inflamation?
This will help the doctors to figure out what kind of snake bit you by seeing the progression of the swelling, allowing the correct antivenom to be administered.
Why no tourniquets?
A tourniquet will stop the blood flow, unlike a tight bandage, and although it would stop the flow of venom, it would also possibly cause a limb to be amputated.
Common Myths:
- Use of tourniquets will help
- An electric shock will stop/kill the venom
- Peeing on it will help (similar to the myth about jellyfish stings)
- Sucking out the venom will help
- Cutting open the wound will help
- Cauterizing the wound will kill off all of the venoms and toxins
- Use of alcohol on the wound will help