Reviewed by DR. D. DATTA.
Ex. Emergency Medical Officer.
First aid for snake bite before the snake bite victim can reach the hospital.
First thing first, Immediately seek others’ help by mobile phone.
Don’t run. Don’t move your bitten limb.
Call for an ambulance.
Don’t panic. Only 20 to 30 percent of snakes are venomous and only 10 percent of snake bite victims are affected by snake venom. Heart rate and blood pressure increases with fear, venom rapidly circulates within the body and may cause rapid death. Severe panicked patient may die due to heart attack
People who are present with the snake bite victim should not be panicked, should not shout or cry, because it makes the snake bite victim more panicked. Panicked patients even in case of non venomous snake bite may show many signs and symptoms that also occur with venomous snake bite such as severe weakness of limbs, vertigo, unconsciousness, vomiting etc.
You may take a photo of the snake by mobile phone if possible which may be shown to the doctor, but don’t move or waste time on it. It is not absolutely necessary.
Don’t kill or handle the snake with bare hands, sometimes even the severed head of a snake or recently dead snake may bite by reflex if contacted by hand.
Reassurance – those present with the snake bite victim should convince the patient that nowadays better treatment is available in hospitals and snake bite patients can survive with treatment.
Remove tight-fitting clothes and objects such as wrist watch, rings from the bitten limb. Keep the affected limb below heart level.
Immobilization– Try to avoid movement of the bitten limb because movement causes rapid spread of venom within the body. Immobilize the bitten limb like a fractured limb with a stick and bandage, but do not apply pressure that can arrest circulation.
Don’t use a tourniquet on a bitten limb. It may stop circulation distal to the ligature. Swelling caused by tight ligature may be confused with local swelling that occurs with some types of venomous snake bite. It may also cause gangrene and loss of the affected limb distal to the ligature.
But when the ligature is already applied don’t remove it suddenly because venom that may accumulate distal to the ligature may rapidly spread and may cause sudden death. Your doctor will guide you when and how to remove ligature.
Sometimes pressure immobilization may be done with great caution by a trained person only.
Don’t wash vigorously, rub or massage the site of the bite, because it may cause rapid spread of venom.
Don’t cut the bitten site or suck it to remove venom. If the bitten site is cut then it may spread the venom within the body rapidly. It may also cause injury and infection to the site.
Sucking the site may endanger the life of the person who sucks the wound.
Don’t apply anything like herb, snake stone or ice on the wound, nothing is effective to neutralize the venom by local application. It may also cause infection and there may be several local or systemic side effects of herbs and other chemicals.
Don’t cauterize the wound or apply electric shock to the site.
Don’t take orally any herb or chemical to neutralize venom, because these are not effective and may have serious effects.
Some people claim that they can diagnose and treat venomous snake bite patients and also some other diseases by traditional methods – they are called ojha, don’t visit them.
Don’t take aspirin like medicines to relieve pain, may use paracetamol for pain
Don’t take any food or drink by mouth without medical advice.
Snake bite is a medical emergency. Each and every minute, especially the first hundred minutes are extremely important therefore don’t waste this valuable time.
If possible, transport the patient in the recovery position to prevent aspiration.
Go straight to hospital and tell the doctor the symptoms you feel.