In This Article
In this article, you will learn how to treat a venomous snake bite correctly.
There are only a few lethal snakes, but a few hundred species that are still very dangerous that you need to keep an eye out for next time you’re walking through the forest.
Let’s dive in.
Prevent it in the First Place
As always, the best method to treat a snakebite is to avoid it. Avoid hiking in snake-infested areas, wear sturdy boots that cover your ankles, take caution when walking through tall grass, and be cautious when stepping or reaching under rocks where snakes commonly rest.
Poke the ground in front of you with a long stick to scare snakes away when traveling through tall grass or weeds.
Additionally, when stepping outside at night, use a flashlight to illuminate your path.
Finally, even if you think a snake is dead, never handle it. Snakes that have recently been killed may still bite as a reflex.
How to Treat a Venomous Snake Bite
1. Keep your Cool
If you get bitten, the most important thing to remember is to stay calm. The fact that a snake bite leads people to panic is one of the most deadly features.
Panic is harmful because it raises your heart rate and blood flow, which increases venom absorption and causes you to make poor decisions, putting you at a far higher risk of serious injury. To help doctors treat you, note the snake’s color, size, form, and pattern.
2. Prevent Swelling
Remove any jewelry, shoes, or tight clothing that could constrain the bite region. Rapid swelling could occur, resulting in more harm.
3. Lift your Limb
Lift your bitten arm or leg at heart level.
4. Clean the Bite Wound
Before loosely bandaging the wound, disinfect the biting area with clean water. The purpose of washing the wound is to get rid of any dirt that has become lodged in the area.
Keep in mind that washing the wound completely may remove the poison. This would make treatment more difficult, especially if you didn’t notice which snake bit you.
5. Seek Medical Help
If you believe you were bitten by a venomous snake, travel to a hospital as quickly as possible. In most parts of the US, you should have enough time to seek medical attention before the bite poses a major threat to your life.
6. Prevent Further Spread
Tie an elastic wrap two inches above the bite if medical help is more than 30 minutes distant. It should be possible to slip a finger underneath the wrap.
What to Avoid
There are really only three main things you have to avoid.
- Do NOT bleed the wound. This will not help and will make the situation worse.
- Do NOT try to suck the venom out of the wound. Medical help will still have to verify what exact venom it is to cure it.
- Do NOT put ice on the bite. This will make it worse.
Most Venemous Snakes
Final Thoughts
That’s all there is to it, survivalists. Unless a snake has bitten you with venom that is extremely harmful, the results of most snake bites are entirely dependent on how you react.
The trick is to maintain your composure so that the venom does not enter your bloodstream, where it might be lethal.
I hope you found this useful and keep prepping!
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