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Snake Bite
A snake can strike fear into even the most courageous of us. The thought of getting bitten by a snake is what drives that fear, simply because there is that fear that the snake that bit is poisonous. The good news is that most of the snakes found in the United States are not poisonous. However, even if a non-poisonous snake bites you, you could still have some health symptoms, due to an allergic reaction or infection. Knowing what to do in case of a snake bite is important, so that you can better care for yourself and for your family.
A snake bite isn't necessarily fatal, but it's something to take seriously. Avoiding snake bites is a good idea as the first line of care. Being prepared to handle this kind of emergency case will make your outing less stressful, and the victim much happier. This is emergency medicine anybody playing outdoors needs to be capable of doing.
Poisonous snakes include the rattlesnake, copperhead, cottonmouth water moccasin, and the coral snake. If bitten by these snakes, it will be necessary that you be given antivenin as an antidote to the snake venom. There are some things that you can do while you are traveling to get medical attention or waiting on medical help, including keeping the victim calm and inactive, washing the area bitten with soap and water, keeping the snake bite area lower than the heart to slow the poison traveling to the heart, and covering the area with a clean, moist cloth or bandage to help decrease swelling and pain. If you are hiking and not able to get medical help within 30 minutes, then the following steps need to be taken for a poisonous snake bite.
Two to four inches above the bite, wrap a bandage somewhat tightly to help slow the progress of the venom. You want the wrap to be tight enough to stop the venom flow through the lypmh system; you should be able to slip a finger underneath it, but not so tight as to prevent the flow of blood to the area. A suction device can be placed over the snake bite to help remove some of the venom. These can be found in snake bite kits, which are readily available at outdoor stores. It is not recommended that you suck the poison out with your mouth, as this can be dangerous for you if there are cuts in your mouth. Keeping the person bitten warm, still, and calm is very important. Medical help should be found as soon as possible to ensure the best outcome from the snake bite.
Even if the snake is not poisonous, you may still find that you have an allergic reaction to the bite or you could get an infection from the bite. Symptoms of an allergic reaction or infection from a snake bite can include redness around the area, itchiness, fever, and general tiredness.
If you are not sure whether the snake is poisonous or not, visit your local emergency room to ensure that you are properly taken care of. Be prepared to describe the snake to the medical team, so that they can give you the proper medical assistance. If it's possible to bring the trapped snake with you, making sure everyone is safe from it, so it can be identified to aid treatment.
A snake bite is not necessarily fatal if help is found in time or if proper attention is given to the snake bite. By gaining knowledge about what to do in case of a snake bite, you can better take care of yourself and your family.
