When A Snake Bites
July 30, 2009
Snake explorers often take vaccinations for protection against snake bites. For those who accidently come in contact with the ferocious reptile, here is a little peep into how to avoid snake bites and what to do when a snake bites.
The most poisonous snakes are rattlesnakes, cottonmouth, coral snake, copperhead and cobra. The snakes only bite as a defense. Therefore try to maintain distance from them and do not panic
Signs and Symptoms
Sudden pain is experienced accompanied by bleeding and a burning sensation. Depending on the type of snake the signs and symptoms may differ. The person may experience excess perspiration, seizures; deep looking marks of fang into the skin and sudden weakness are characteristic signs of snake bites. The person may faint and the skin color of the area may change.
Other symptoms include a rapid pulse, tissue damage, headache, excess salivation in mouth, numbness, paralysis, blur vision, low blood pressure and thirst. In care cases, death may occur due to shock.
What to Do After Bite
Get medical help immediately. Use an antiseptic soap to wash the bite. Do not rub the area deeply as it may spread the poison to nearby tissues. Take a cloth and tie the area about 4 inches from the bite to slow down spread of the poison.
The person`s body may start to become cold. Try to restore body heat by giving him/her blanket. Remove all accessories worn in the nearby region of the bite. The area will swell.
In case of no medical help
If there is no medical helps available and the snake has bitten less than 5 minutes ago simple tie the area 4 inches above bitten area and keep it below the level of heart. Make an incision a little below the bitten area with a sterilized blade and suck the blood and the venom out using a suction cup. The person may suck through mouth and spit only under extreme conditions. The treatment does not work if one has been bitten by a cobra. The incision should never be made on neck or head.
Extract of olive leaves and syrup of black cohosh are helpful. The syrup should be taken thrice daily and the extract can be directly applied on the bite. The olive leaf has powerful antibacterial properties.
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