First Aid Procedures for Treating Snake Bite Victims

First aid for snake bites

People visiting snake-inhabited areas are always vulnerable to snake bites. The different species of snakes that cause poisonous bites are Rattlesnake, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Water Moccasin, Coral snake, etc.

The most common symptoms of snake bites which can occur to a person are:

1 bloody wound discharge

2 fang marks in the skin and swelling at the site of the bite

3 burning

4 fainting

5 dizziness

6 weakness

7 blurred vision

8 excessive sweating

9 fever

10 increased thirst

11 loss of muscle coordination

12 nausea and vomiting

13 rapid pulse

Snake bite first aid

Emergency assistance should be immediately called upon in the case of a snake bite to a person. While waiting for the emergency assistance first aid should be provided to the victim.
This is very crucial to to casualty.

1 Assure the affected person that emergency services are on the way. Calm them down and restrict movement. Keep the venom immobile and lower than the heart.

2 Immediately call for emergency medical help.

3 Keep a constant monitor on the vital signs such as rate of breathing, temperature, blood pressure and pulse.

4 If there is a suction device available then it can be useful to draw out the venom without making cuts.

What not to do

Medical professionals may not agree on every point of what to do for snakebites but they are almost unanimous in their opinions of what not to do. Some of them are:

1 Tourniquets should not be applied to affected area. This completely stops blood flow and can result in loss of limb.

2 No cold compressors or ice cubicles should be applied.

3 Never try to draw out venom through mouth.

4 No application of razor or knife should be on the wound.

5 Nothing should be given to the victim through mouth.

At last... If you have been encountered a victim of a snake bite and have provided crucial first aid to the victim, You should then complete the task by providing back up assistance like protecting incident materials, contacting relatives and describing first aid provided. Be sure and confident that all that can be done has been provided by you to control the venomous bite. The early most treatment is the most important treatment provided.

Also read our article about First Aid Treatment for Poisoning