Otherwise, she might bite again. The minimum distance to the reptile should be equal to the length of its body.
Do not try to kill the snake or pick it up if it has died. There were cases when the snake's head, even when separated from the body, reflexively clenched its jaws.
The venom of some snakes penetrates the body very quickly and leads to Snake bites / NHS to death. Therefore, if possible, rather dial 103 or 112.
It's very good if you remember what a snake looks like. Describe the details to the dispatcher and tell him exactly where the bite is.
If there is someone nearby who can take the victim to the hospital faster than the ambulance arrives, ask him to do it.
If the snake did not have time to crawl far away, and the phone is at hand, take a picture of it or ask someone who is next to you to do it.
Tight clothes should be unbuttoned so as not to press, but do not take them off: unnecessary movements are useless. When biting in the leg, you need to take off your shoes carefully.
Gently clean the wound with a damp cloth with antiseptic or soap and water. Then apply a clean, dry bandage so that it does not press How to Prevent or Respond to a Snake Bite / CDC , did not tighten the skin. Thanks to this, dirt and germs will not get into the wound.
Calm the victim down or try to calm down yourself if you have been bitten. Panic will only worsen the situation, the heart will beat faster and help spread Snake bites / MedlinePlus poison through the body.
To slow down its spread, you need to sit down or lie down comfortably and not move, and keep the affected area below the level of the heart, if possible.
This point is especially important for those who are far from the hospital and cannot get medical help quickly.
Write down the date and time of the bite next to the affected area or on paper. Here, record all the symptoms that appear and the size of the redness. If possible, measure the circumference of the limb below and above the bite site. Write down this data too.
Sometimes a snake bite causes Snake bites / NHS anaphylactic shock is a life—threatening condition. Here are its main symptoms:
These signs may appear immediately or several hours after the bite. In any case, you need to act very quickly.
If you haven't called an ambulance yet, call immediately. Inform the dispatcher that you suspect anaphylaxis.
Lay the victim on his back, and if he vomits, then turn him on his side. If there is an autoinjector with adrenaline at hand, insert it into the thigh.
Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation if a person has lost consciousness and is not breathing. Continue until the ambulance arrives.
Do not leave the patient alone, even if his condition has improved. The attack may recur.
Antihistamines for anaphylaxis are useless — they will not have time to act.
The World Health Organization recommends Snakebite envenoming / WHO avoid these methods of removing the poison from the wound.
Surely you have seen more than once how actors in films heroically suck out poison to save a snake bitten from imminent death. But not everything that is shown in the movies is applicable in life.
Studies have shown that sucking by mouth or mechanical devices is ineffective. It was possible to remove only from 0.04 to 2% of the poison. Sucking the poison by mouth can increase infection of the wound and cause an abscess, and also poses a danger to the rescuer, since the poison can be absorbed through the oral mucosa.
It's not worth cutting the wound to bleed and let the poison out. Firstly, it is impossible to know for sure how far the poison has spread through the body. Secondly, it will only open the wound, make it bigger and complicate the situation. Thirdly, there is a risk of bringing dirt or infection.
At the same time, according to Georgy Budarkevich, there will be no positive effect.
In fact, as scientists have found out G. Watt, L. Padre, M. L. Tuazon, R. D. Theakston, L. W. Laughlin. Tourniquet application after cobra bite: delay in the onset of neurotoxicity and the dangers of sudden release / The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene , applying a tourniquet is not only useless, but also harmful. It can cause respiratory paralysis.
The effectiveness of applying a tourniquet has not been confirmed in any of the studies. At the same time, the imposition of an arterial or venous tourniquet significantly increases the risk of ischemia and gangrene. This can lead to amputation.
To do this, it is enough to follow the simple rules Snakebite Prevention and First Aid / American Academy of Family Physicians :
