How to manage a snake bite
Immediate first aid treatment and urgent transport to the closest hospital or clinic is essential.
First aid treatment:
First aid treatment must be provided immediately after the bite and before the patient reaches a hospital. It can be performed by the snake bite victim or by anyone else who is present. Most of the traditional first aid methods have proved to be dangerous and should be discouraged as they do more harm than good!
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Dos
- Reassure the victim who may be very anxious
- Immobilise the bitten limb with a splint or sling as any movement or muscular contraction increases absorption of venom into the bloodstream. Apply a light bandage over the bite site and consider pressure-immobilisation for some serious bites by neurotoxic snakes, such as sea snakes.
Don’t’s
- Don’t interfere with the bite wound as this may spread the infection and increase absorption of the venom into the blood stream and local bleeding
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- Don’t make local incisions, pricks or punctures at the site of the bite or in the bitten limb
- Never attempt to suck the venom out of the wound
- Don’t apply ice packs, herbs, chemicals or tight tourniquets/bands around the limb, this is extremely painful and dangerous and if a tight tourniquet is left on for too long (over 40 minutes) the affected limb can be damaged due to inadequate blood supply and result in gangrene.
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