First Aid for Poisonous Snake Bite

Snake Bites

Of the 45,000 snake bites reported each year in the US, only 20% are made by poisonous snakes. Those snakes don’t inject venom with every bite. All told, fewer than 20 people actually die from snake bites each year. The major damage caused by poisonous snake bites is loss of function in an arm or leg.

Pit Viper Snake Bites

Most experts believe that trying to suck the venom out of the wound makes sense if you can do it within three minutes after the bite. Use a suction cup, if possible, but in emergencies you can use your mouth, quickly spitting out the venom and blood. Experts don’t agree on the benefit of making cuts over the bite in an attempt to remove venom. Don’t apply cold to the bite. Don’t lie flat; keep the bite lower than the heart. It is helpful for the patient not to use the arm or leg with the bite and to rest, but these actions aren’t as important as getting to medical care as soon as possible.

Doctors don’t agree on the use of tourniquets for pit viper bites. Tourniquets that are too tight and left in place too long may actually cause worse damage and even lead to amputation. If you see a tourniquet, follow these guidelines:

• Tourniquets are useful only on an arm or leg, not on the trunk of the body.
• Place the tourniquet four to six inches (10 – 15 cm) above the bite.
• Make the tourniquet snug, but not tight enough to cut off blood flow, and loosen it for at least 2 minutes every 15 minutes.

Coral Snake Bites

Neither a tourniquet nor suction is useful. It’s probably good to wash the area around the wound right away. But the most important task is to find medical help as quickly as possible.

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