Snake bites must always be taken seriously. Some are dry bites, that aren't as dangerous and can possibly cause some swelling, others are venomous bites, which, if not treated rigorously and quickly, may result in death. Get immediate medical attention if you've been bitten by a snake, because it might be a matter of life and death.
Snakes bite either to capture prey or for self-defense. However since there is a large amount of different types of snakes; together with venomous and non-venomous.
Primary Actions to be taken immediately:
Do’s:
Remove any jewelry or watch as they might cut your skin if it swells.
Remove shoes if your leg or foot has been bitten.
Hold the area of the sting which is below the heart to reduce the spread of the poison through the bloodstream.
Be still and calm. If possible, roll over on your side and rest in the recovery position. When you move around a lot, the poison spreads faster in the body.
If possible, take a photo of the snake from a safe distance. Identifying the snake can help in treating snake bites.
Any victim of a snake bite should go to a hospital emergency unless an expert positively identifies the snake as non-venomous. Remember, incorrect identification of the snake species can be a fatal mistake.
Non-toxic snake bites require good wound care.
Victims should get a tetanus booster shot if they haven't got one in the past 5 years.
Don'ts :
Do not pick up the snake or try to catch it. NEVER touch a poisonous snake, even a dead snake or its decapitated head.
If you have a bite, do not wait for symptoms to appear, seek medical advice immediately.
Do not put on a tourniquet.
Do not cut the wound with a knife or cut it in any way.
Don't try to suck out the poison.
Do not apply ice or submerge the wound in water.
Don't drink alcohol as a pain reliever.
Do not take pain relievers (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen).
Give the person alcohol or caffeinated drinks or any other medications.
Are those Bites Dangerous?
There are 2 unique kinds of snake bites. And one is more extreme than the other:
Dry bites: These arise whilst a snake doesn’t launch any venom with its bite. As you’d expect, those are basically visible with non-venomous snakes.
Venomous bites: These are a whole lot dangerous. They arise whilst a snake transmits venom all through a bite.
Venomous snakes willingly give off poison when they bite. They can control the amount of poison they emit, and 50 to 70% of poisonous snakebites result in poisoning. Even if the bite is less severe, any snakebite should be treated as a medical emergency unless you are absolutely certain that the bite was from a non-venomous snake; any delay in treatment after a venomous snakebite could result in serious injury or, in the worst case, death.
Poisonous snakebites cause a wide range of effects, from simple stab wounds to life-threatening illness and death. The first effects of a venomous snakebite can be deceptive. A victim may not have significant symptoms at first, and then suddenly have a difficult time. breathe and get in shock.
Different species carry different types of venom. The major categories of venom include:
Cytotoxins: Cause swelling and tissue damage wherever you’ve been bitten.
Hemorrhaging: Disrupt the blood vessels.
Anti-clotting agents: Prevent the blood from clotting.
Neurotoxins: Cause paralysis or other damage to the nervous system.
Mycotoxins: Break down muscles.
Venomous snakes are:
Two major groups of venomous snakes are:
Elapids (cobra family): There are three hundred venomous species of Elapidae, as well as kraits, mambas, coral snakes and ocean snakes. They need short fangs within the front of the upper jawbone and strike downward, followed by chewing. Their venom is especially toxin however it also can damage body tissue or blood cells. If an elapid bites you, you'll die from palsy of the guts and lungs terribly quickly once they bite.
Vipers: There are over two hundred species of Viperidae, which incorporates pit vipers (like rattlesnakes, copperheads, water moccasins, or cottonmouths) and Old-World vipers (adders). They need long, hollow, venomous fangs connected to movable bones in their higher jaw. They fold their fangs back to their mouth once they’re not in use.
How can we stay safe from snakes during trekking in the forest?
Staying on a trail is the safest. Avoid walking across fallen leaves and thick brush. Snakes hide in these areas. When we are hiking in areas with no trail, with thick brush and leaves, we can grab a walking stick and poke it in front of us as we go. We have scared off multiple snakes this way.
Snakes also sun themselves on rocks or open patches in forests where the sun can shine to the ground. They are easy to see, just don't be oblivious to your surroundings.
We have hiked through many jungles, mountains and deserts without a trail, and I have seen many snakes, but haven't been bitten yet.
You can also get snake boots.
Prevention:
Avoid places where snakes can live. These locations include tall grass or scrub, rocky areas, fallen logs, cliffs, swamps, salt marshes, and deep holes in the ground.
When moving through tall grass or bushes, hit the ground with a long stick in front of you to scare away snakes.
When you are outdoors, be careful where you step and where you sit.
Wear long, baggy trousers and thick leather or rubber boots.
Light your way with a flashlight when you go outside at night.
Some facts about snakes and snake bites:
Most snake bites don't even have venom injected by the snake even if it is venomous. The probability of a snake bite being dangerous is low but not zero. 70 % of snake bites are from non-venomous snakes and only 50% of bites by venomous snakes have venom injected by the snakes.
There are mainly 4 venomous snakes in India- Common Cobra, Saw-scaled Viper, Common Krait, Russell's viper (last two more common). The poly-valent antivenom serum that is available acts against venom of these four Indian species only. It is supplied to all major emergencies free of cost by the Indian government and are stocked in the government hospitals. (India specific information)
Most of the snakes are not venomous and snakes attack only if you step on them inadvertently or try to trouble them while they are feeding/hunting. They don't go hunting for humans to bite.
Snakes enter human habitat when burrows get flooded during monsoons and they may get close to human settlements in search of their prey (rodents which may become scarce in monsoons)
If you see a snake around your campus or house, please call the nearest animal welfare organization who are usually happy to remove the snake and place it in their natural habitat. Do not try to mess with the snake.
Deaths due to snake bites are lower than those due to road traffic accidents. More humans kill each other than snakes kill humans. Only the fear factor of a snake is high. Always remember that the snake is more scared of you than you are of the snake.
Note: If you don't act quickly, snakebites can be incredibly dangerous and can sometimes be fatal. There are still certain preventive measures that you need to take to avoid the complications of a venomous snakebite.
REFERENCES:
First Aid Manual Book.
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