What to do in case of snakebite?

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patrickjames

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Feb 11, 2006
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My wife and I was on a hike a while back and I stepped over a snake in the trail with out seeing it.It turned out to be harmless, but caused me to do some thinking seeing we was a long way down in a cayon,miles from the truck.They used to advise you to cut in between the puncture hole and try to suck the venom out,but I read some place this is not the best way any more.Now I'm a little spooked.Thanks for any info.
 
The best thing is do nothing at all....get to a doctor ASAP.
If you cannot get to a doctor in a few hours ,use a cheap stun gun around the bite area.The electrical shock kills the enzymes in the poison.
A majority of snake bites from posinous snakes do not have any venom in them.Do not cut as this is usually what leads to infection.
You can purchase acheap stungun for 20 Bucks or less.Carry fresh batteries.
 
If you go into the bush in Australia for any length of time, sooner or later you will come across some fairly poisonous snakes. Fortunately, I have found they go away from me rather than towards me. In Australia we are told not to cut, suck or wash the bite. My understanding is that by not washing the site it is possible for the venom (snake type) to be recognised at the hospital so effective treatment can take place. Most bites occur on limbs. I think the proper treatment is to apply a pressure bandage firmly (not so tight as to cut off the blood supply) over the bite area and down to the end of the limb and then back up to the groin or shoulder. This is used in conjunction with a splint of some sort as well. I know I keep being told over the years what to do, but I have too many senior moments now and it would be good if someone could confirm what I have written. My wife does tell me I have to be retrained after every weekend and it has been some time since I was told what to do. You are also told not to panic and to stay calm. But a friend of mine who was bitten when she went to move a sprinkler in her yard (that happened to have a snake curled up around it) told me that is easier said than done.
 
well...

1...There is no such thing as a "poisonous snake"...They are venomous

2...dude is correct...some times a HOt will tag ya without injecting any venom..This is called a drybite

As to what to do?? well opinions vary but here goes..

1...Stay as calm as possible

2...DO NOT CUT THE WOUND!!!

3...Dont apply a tournaquet...Although I have heard more than once that you CAN use a pressure bandage if you know how to apply it

4...stay as calm as possible

5...Dont suck out the venom...Even a suction cup isnt going to do much good as the venom spreads to fast in the lymphs under the skin...

6...Try and immobilize the limb that gets hit or at least restrict it's movement

7...dont elevate the limb over the heart...Not a good idea

8...get to a doc as fast as possible
 
I have a Sawyer extractor, and will use it regardless of anyone's advice. That 1/10 of a milligram that I get out might make the difference...

PS - Then I'll chop it's head off and eat it out of spite! :p
 
If it's a companion who gets bitten, you should never suck the wound if you have fillings in your teeth or bleeding gums, as in gingivitis. The venom could enter your system either way.
 
I went looking for the official directions for snake bite in Australia as used by Australian ambulance staff.

"Apply pressure immobilization over the bitten area and around the limb, using a crepe or conforming bandage about 15cm wide. If unavailable, use pantyhose or other material.

1. Apply the bandage firmly enough to compress tissue, but not so firmly as to restrict the flow of blood to the limb below the bandage.

2. Bandage from the bite to the fingers or toes, then up to the armpit or groin.

3. Bandage as much of the limb as possible.

4. Apply a splint to the bandaged limb with a second bandage.

5. Do not remove the splint or bandage once applied.

The instructions go further and warn:

1. Never wash the venom

2. Never cut or excise the bitten area

3. Never try to suck the venom out of the wound

4. Never use a constrictive bandage

5. Do not try to catch the snake."

I hope that helps.
 
Thank you Glen Jones.Looks like I will be takeing pantyhose with me in my day pack.I hope nobody gets the wrong Idea.But hey,I do live in California.Another queston,if your a ways from your vehicle should you try to walk back?
pj
 
patrickjames said:
Another queston,if your a ways from your vehicle should you try to walk back?pj
Click to expand...

The less you move the better, but if help can't get to you then yes, but try to move as slowly and calmly as you can. The more you exert yourself and get your blood pumping harder, the faster you will spread the venom.
 
What Glen and Last Confederate and Leatherface state are pretty much true. What you apply is called a lymphatic wrap. It's a loose elastice wrap, like an ace wrap. Do not apply a tournequet. Everything else they state is correct.

Ths stun gun idea is a myth.

Any other question, please ask.

cliff
 
The stun gun works. It is intended to distract the bite victim from his minor wound, and to entertain bystanders. Pounding the snake into putty works just as well though, and you don't loose control of your bowels and bladder. As others have said, envenomation is pretty rare, and even then seldom deadly with or without treatment. I used to give my rabbit dogs benedryl though to lessen swelling and constriction of the airway. Never had one die, but they could develop an awful absess at the bite site that had to be lanced, or opened and debrided. Not fun for either of us.

Codger
 
Get yourself to a doctor ASAP. I have also heard that it can help keep the venom from spreading by putting cold material (ice or something) over the bite area and using a compression bandage to hold it in place. Obviously you don't want the cold material to directly contact the skin.
 
Ok so you did everything which need to be done... But what should you do if you are in the middle of no where and the nearest doctor is days away... You got nothing to attract attention and got no means of communication... This might be a WCS so what do you do? Do you walk out or lie down and wait hoping that someone might see you... Either ways you might die (touch wood) so do you risk it by walking out or stay??
 
I'd be intrested in hearing the logic behind not using the Sawyer Extractor.

I understand the logic behind not cutting a snakebite and not sucking out venom with your mouth but I'm having a hard time understanding why the Extractor is a bad idea. At the worst it seems like it wouldn't do enough to be a treatment in itself.

It seems to me that the Extractor would give diminished results with the passage of time but if it was applied right away that it might do some good.

If one of the major recommendations is to keep the patient calm one of the benefits of the Extractor might be that it would give the victim the sense that something has been done to limit the spread of venom.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around some detrimental effect of immediate, localized suction of the bite, with the Extractor. I freely admit that I could be missing something important here, as I am not a doctor. The only thing I can think of is that somehow the suction might increase the blood flow to the area and wash more venom into the system than ordinary circulation would, or that the Extractor would remove, but this is just non-medically qualified conjecture on my part.

I'm bit, I get away from the snake, drop my pack and extract the wound... how have I worsened the situation? Mac
 
You have to remember how fast blood is pumping through your body. Chances are, by the time you pull out the device...and finally begin pumping on the bitten area the venom has travelled throughout the soft tissue in the immediate area (if not further). The vaccuum created might actually speed the transfer by pulling out fresh blood (and the white blood cells that are being sent to the bitten area) while forcing venom deeper into your body. After the immediate treatment advice given above - wrapping above and on the bite, the most important thing is to get to a doctor. Different snakes have different types of venoms, and different venoms require different treatments. Some venoms affect the nervous system, others the peripheral. So keep cool and get your medical insurance card ready. Chance is in your favor for your survival.
 
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