Getting bitten by a venomous snake can be very scary, and can lead people to react in exactly the wrong way: Maybe they panic, try to catch or kill the snake, or apply ice or a tourniquet to the wound, which can be disastrous in certain situations.
So, how should a person respond to a bite? And what happens in the human body when a person is bitten by a venomous snake?
Top 5 things you need to do if you get bitten by a snake
Call an ambulance immediately. You should treat any snake bite as an emergency, regardless of whether you think the snake was venomous or not. ...
Don't panic and don't move. ...
Leave the snake alone. ...
Apply a pressure immobilization bandage and splint. ...
Don't wash, suck, cut or tourniquet the bite.
1. Call an ambulance immediately
You should treat any snake bite as an emergency, regardless of whether you think the snake was venomous or not. Many snakes look similar, and if you wait to see if you feel symptoms of venom poisoning, it might be too late by the time you get help.
What to do
You need to stay as still as possible, so rather than running for a phone, use a mobile phone or have someone else go and call for help. Call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance, or use the Emergency+ app to call an ambulance. This app uses GPS functionality on mobile phones to help the emergency services know exactly where you are.
2. Don’t panic and don’t move
While it’s easier said than done, staying calm and still after a snake bite can help slow down the spread of venom in your body. If you’ve been bitten by a poisonous snake, not moving might save your life.
It’s a myth that snake venom gets straight into your blood stream after a bite. Instead, it moves through your lymphatic system. Lymph is a fluid in your body that contains white blood cells. Unlike blood, which is pumped around your body continuously, your lymph moves when you move your limbs. If you can stay still and calm, you can prevent the venom in your lymph traveling further into your body.
What to do
If you’re sure the snake has moved away after biting you and you’re not in danger of being bitten again, remain where you are, rather than walking to get help. If you’re with other people, they shouldn’t move you at all, but start administering first aid where you are.
Take long, deep breaths to help calm yourself down. Remember that the odds are in your favour: it’s rare for people to die after being bitten by a snake, especially if they follow first aid steps.
3. Leave the snake alone
Don’t try to identify, catch, injure or kill the snake you’re likely to come off second best. At the hospital, staff has access to a range of tests that can help them determine the likely snake by which you have been bitten by, enabling them to give you the most appropriate treatment.
0 Comments