medicall_editor Snake Bite First Aid: Important DOs and DON’Ts of Snake Bites
Snake bite first aid generally can be done by doing several things starts from seek medical help, avoid washing the bitten area with water, and so on.
Every year, there are thousands of people caused by poisonous of the snake bites. Snakes will bite for self-defense which can bring poison to humans. Sores caused by snake bites come from venomous or non-venomous snakes. Venom snake bite needs medical emergency because it causes shock and can lead to death. However, by doing fast and precise treatment of snake bites potentially can reduce death by more than 90%. Snake is commonly found in tropical countries, including Indonesia. For that matter, travelers who would like to travel to tropical countries need to know snake bite first aid. Before going further to learn how to give snake bite first aid, recognize the characteristics of venomous and non-venomous snakes below.
Signs if you’re bitten by snake
Snake bites causes damage at the bitten area and other systemic disorders. Symptoms at the bite site generally occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours. The sufferers generally will experience
- Swelling and pain
- Blue spots wounds
- Muscle weakness
- Chills
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Blurred vision
In addition, venomous snakes cause special symptoms in several organs:
Hematotoxic (blood): bleeding in lung, heart, brain, gums, gastrointestinal tract, blood urine, as well as blood clotting disorders.
Neurotoxic (nerve): sufferers to feel weakness of the muscles of the body, stiffness, spasms. If it attacks the respiratory nerve, this can make it difficult for people to breathe and can cause death.
Cardiotoxic: symptoms that occur in the form of a decrease in blood pressure, shock, and cardiac arrest.
Compartment syndrome: it causes an increase in pressure in a group of muscles caused by swelling. As a result, blood vessels and nerves can be pinched, and long duration of muscle can lack oxygen and can require doctors to do surgery.
A person that is bitten by venomous snakes will experience those symptoms. If the snake that bites you is not venomous, you can use doctor to your location service through Medi-Call application or by contacting Medi-Call hotline. The doctor will give antibiotic therapy and anti-tetanus serum to your location.
Snake bite first aid
Generally, the sufferers will experience shock, vomiting and headaches once they are bitten by snakes. However, it depends on the type of poison and its reaction. Check the bitten area for local necrosis, bleeding or enlargement of the tender local lymph nodes.
If you are bitten by snakes, you can do these following tips of snake bite first aid to reduce or prevent the spread of the poison:
- Immediately call an ambulance if the sufferer is bitten by a venomous snake which makes the sufferer difficult to breathe and lose consciousness
- Stay calm and minimize movement. This functions to reduce the spread of poison in the body. It is better if you remove the ring, watch, or jewelry from the bitten limb.
- Try to remember the characteristics of the snake. It functions for a doctor to identify the poison from the snake. The doctor will give appropriate treatment if the doctor enables to identify what type of snake that bites the sufferers.
- Clean the bite area. It is better to cover the bite with a clean dry cloth. This can be one of the preventative ways for snake bite first aid.
- Keep the area of the bite under the heart. This functions to slow the spread of poison through the bloodstream.
Moreover, there are things you need to avoid if you are bitten by a snake:
- Don’t cut bite wounds, suck poison by mouth, or use a tourniquet.
- Don’t drink alcohol or beverages with caffeine.
- Don’t rub the bitten area with chemicals and don’t compress it with hot water or ice.
- Don’t wash the bitten area with water.
- Don’t try to chase the snake.
In general, you can use those tips as snake bite first aid to reduce the spread of the snake poison. Snakes with poison have the potential to cause death and severe conditions. For that matter, it is important to know what things to do and avoid for snake bite first aid.
