How to Treat Snake Bites

When you're out camping or hiking, there's a good chance you'll be in an area that is home to venomous snakes. Because a snake bite has the potential to be fatal, it's important that you know in advance what to do if you or someone else has an encounter with a venomous snake.

Instructions

• 1

  A snake bite victim has a far better chance of survival if professional medical care can be obtained in time. The first thing to do is always call 911, but while you're waiting for emergency responders to arrive, here are some tips on how you can help the snake bite victim.

• 2

  Make sure you and the victim are away from the snake. There's no rule that says a snake can only bite once, so get everyone away from the snake. If you don't know where it went, make sure you're sitting someplace where you can keep an eye out for it in case it returns. However, don't waste time looking for it to kill the snake or take its picture; most trained emergency personnel can identify the snake by the bite patterns.

• 3

  Don't elevate the bitten area. Keep it below the level of the heart, and wash the bite with soap and warm water if it's available to you. That won't eliminate the poison, but it can help keep other potential bacteria out of the puncture sites. Help keep the victim calm by having them sit down, instead of wandering around.

• 4

  Most snake bites occur on an extremity, such as the arms or legs. If the victim is wearing any sort of constricting clothing or jewelry, remove it to prevent tissue death in case of swelling. If professional help is more than half an hour away, you can wrap a bandage around the limb, two to four inches above the bite. If you do this, make sure the bandage doesn’t cut off blood flow from an artery or vein; make sure the bandage is loose enough that you can slip one finger beneath it.

• 5

  Follow basic first aid while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive. Watch the victim for signs of shock. Don't cut the bitten area or try to suck out the poison with your mouth; this has the potential to do more harm than good.