Guide · First aid

Snake bites

Most snake bites are not deadly, and many bites inject little or no venom, but you can't tell at first. Treat every bite as dangerous. Call your local emergency number (112 in Europe and many other countries, 911 in North America) at once and get the person to medical care, where antivenom may be given.

Signs of venom

Pain and swelling at the bite, puncture marks, bruising or blistering, feeling sick, sweating, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty speaking, swallowing or breathing, bleeding from the gums or wound, and collapse. Symptoms can take hours to appear.

What to do

1. Move away from the snake. Don't try to catch or kill it. A photo from a safe distance can help doctors, but only if it doesn't put anyone at risk.
2. Keep the person still and calm. Movement can spread venom faster. Lie them down.
3. Remove rings, watches, bracelets and tight clothing from the bitten limb before it swells.
4. Immobilise the limb. Splint it as you would a broken bone, and keep it still and roughly level with the heart.
5. Note the time of the bite and how symptoms change.
6. Carry them out if you can, rather than letting them walk. If they must walk, go slowly and rest often.
7. Watch their breathing. If they become unresponsive and stop breathing normally, start CPR.

Pressure bandaging

In some regions, especially where most dangerous snakes affect the nerves (for example, many cobras, kraits, mambas, sea snakes and most dangerous snakes in Australasia), health services recommend a pressure-immobilisation bandage. This means wrapping a broad elastic bandage firmly over the bite and then up the whole limb, about as tight as for a sprain, and splinting it. In regions where most bites damage tissue around the wound, such as those of many vipers and rattlesnakes, this is usually not recommended. Learn the local advice before you travel.

Don't

• Cut the wound or try to suck out the venom
• Use a tourniquet
• Apply ice, heat, chemicals or electric shocks
• Scrub the bite clean before help arrives in regions where doctors test venom left on the skin to identify the snake
• Give alcohol or caffeine
• Wait to see if symptoms develop before getting help

Afterwards

Even if they feel fine, anyone bitten by a snake should be checked by a doctor. Some venoms cause delayed effects, and bites can become infected. Make sure their tetanus vaccination is up to date.

This guide does not replace a first-aid course. A few hours of hands-on practice will make you far more confident when it matters.

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