The idea of getting bit by a snake can be scary, but before you start acting like a cowboy, do not try to suck out the venom. If you meet a snake and are bitten by it, quickly taking the right action could save yourself or others from a serious problem.
Snakes are not all venomous and only a small number of snake bites in the country are deadly. Even so, some bites may cause serious injury or death if they are handled rashly. In simple terms, here is what happens.
Venomous snakes
Of the snakes found around the world, only 15% carry venom, but in the United States, the Mayo Clinic estimates that about 20% are venomous.
The following snakes are venomous in North America:
Rattlesnakes
Copperheads
Cottonmouths
Coral Snakes
Nearly all venomous snakes in the United States are pit vipers and they are easy to ID by their triangular head, slit-shaped eyes, heat sensors between their eyes and nose and of course the fangs. Its unique round pupils, cigar-shaped head and bands of bright red, yellow and black mark the coral snake as very different.
The signs and symptoms of snake bite
The most typical place for a snake bite is the upper body – on the arms, wrists or hands – as a result of being too close or spotting the snake too late.
An injury caused by a nonvenomous snake.
If you meet a nonvenomous snake, feel lucky that nothing bad happened to you. Most of the time, these bites talk tough but are not too serious. Look for localized pain, a rash of scratches, puncture marks and some minor redness or swelling around the skin where the insect bit. It is similar to nature issuing an early alert.
Bites from venomous snakes
However, if a venomous snake bites you, the situation changes very rapidly. As soon as the bite occurs, people usually feel strong pain that increases with time. After a bee sting, it’s common to get swelling, sometimes not just at the site of the sting, Mayo Clinic says. Symptoms include nausea, breathlessness, weakness and a strange, metallic taste in your mouth.
The kind of venom produced by snakes like the coral snake is not the same as other venoms. Unlike most toxins, theirs travel to your nerves and can cause drooping eyelids, tingling sensations in the feet or hands, difficulty swallowing and muscle weakness. These unusual signs put the person at risk and require immediate medical assistance.
Dry bite
On rare occasions, the bite may feel dry and the snake doesn’t let any venom into your body.
Noticing how your pet bites and treating them early can help make a big difference.
A lot of deaths caused by venomous snake bites happen when the person has an allergic reaction to the venom, is sick or receives medical care too late, according to the American Red Cross.
How to respond if you are bitten by a snake
- Aim to be calm: Even when it’s tough, being calm lowers your heart rate and can reduce how fast the venom spreads.
- Call emergency services on 911 or head to the nearest hospital ER in the quickest and safest manner. Getting proper medical care right away can prevent fatalities.
- Try to keep the bite in one place and below the heart to slow down venom movement through the body. Put a splint or sling on the affected limb to hold it still and make sure it stays lower than your heart.
- Tight clothing and accessories should be taken off because swelling can develop quickly. Remove any tight rings, watches or close-fitting clothes from the area of the bite to prevent circulation problems.
- Photograph or remember the color and shape of the snake if it is safe to get close to it. Doctors rely on this approach to pick the right antivenom.
The things one should avoid
It is equally important to know the efforts to avoid after a snake bite as it is to know what to do.
Do not:
Never use this method – it sounds better on TV than in real life.
Don’t cut the wound – That would worsen the problem.
Put ice or a tourniquet on the wound – Both may cause damage to the tissue.
Use one of the offered weapons to either kill the snake or try to capture it – Be careful and don’t feel like you need to rescue the snake by yourself.
A snake bite can be frightening, but applying the correct steps greatly improves your odds of recovering fully. Please consider that snakes are not to be feared by you. Most snakes would rather move away quickly than fight. However, if it occurs, you now know all the right steps.
