First Aid For Poisonous Snake Bites

FIRST AID FOR SNAKE BITES

  One of the most common injuries that happen while hunting is snake bites. It is important to know and understand basic first aid for snake bites because administering basic first aid can save life and limb if done properly. In this tutorial we will go over the signs and symptoms of snake bites and how to administer basic first aid treatment for them.

  There are numerous types of venomous snakes found all over the world and each having different types of venom. The two types of venoms are hemotoxic which attack and destroy tissue and blood cells, as the venom spreads it causes massive swelling to the point where the skin will rupture causing blood loss and extreme tissue death called necrosis. If not treated quickly, a victim could lose the extremity and eventually lead to death.

  The next type of venom is neurotoxin, which attacks the central nervous system shutting down vital nerves that control breathing and the heart causing death. The venom can spread rapidly, shutting down other vital organs through out the body.

  Most North American snakes aren't poisonous. Some exceptions include the rattlesnake, coral snake, water moccasin and copperhead. These snake bites can be life-threatening. It is important to know the different types of poisonous snakes for the region you are hunting in. Knowing this information can help medical personnel administer the appropriate anti venom and treatment. The wrong anti venom and treatment can cause more harm than good. Of the poisonous snakes found in North America, all but the coral snake have slit-like eyes. Their heads are triangular, with a depression, or pit, midway between the eyes and nostrils.

North American Poisonous Snake Characteristics:

Rattlesnakes – There are many different types of species of rattlesnakes in the United States, each with a different appearance and habitat. Rattlesnakes share a unique but common characteristic because they rattle by shaking the rings at the end of their tails. In most cases, Rattlesnakes will give a warning by rattling, but it is important to remember that they may not always give a warning before striking. 

Eastern Diamond Back

 Timber Rattle Snake

 Mohave Rattle Snake

 Tiger Rattle Snake

Rock Rattle Snake

 Sidewinder Rattle Snake

 Lower California Rattle Snake

 Speckled Rattle Snake

Western Diamond Back

 

Copperhead – Copperhead snakes blend extremely well into their environment and are extremely hard to see. Copperheads do not give any warning before striking.

Water Moccasin or Cotton Mouth – Cotton Mouth/Water Moccasins commonly have mouths that have a white, cottony lining. These snakes generally live near bodies of water such as rivers, bogs, ponds, lakes, etc.

Coral Snake - Coral snakes have a unique characteristic in the color of their bands because they have red, yellow and black rings along the length of their bodies. I am sure that many have heard the expression “red and yellow kill a fellow” and “red and black, venom lack”. This is an easy way to distinguish if it is a Coral snake or another non venomous snake that looks like a Coral snake such as the Louisiana Milk snake. If the red bands touch the yellow bands, then it is a Coral snake. If the red bands touch the black bands, then it is not a Coral snake and is non venomous.

  If you are not 100% sure about a snake being venomous or not, then the best course of actions is to avoid it all together or if bitten, kill the snake if you can do so safely and from a distance. It is always better to be safe then sorry.

Common Signs and Symptoms:

Rattle Snake Bites:

Rattlesnake bites are painful when they occur. Symptoms usually begin right away and may include:

• Bleeding
• Breathing difficulty
• Blurred vision
• Eyelid drooping
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea and vomiting
• Numbness
• Pain at site of bite
• Paralysis
• Rapid pulse
• Skin color changes
• Swelling
• Tingling
• Tissue damage
• Thirst
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Weak pulse

Cotton Mouth snake bite:

Cottonmouth and copperhead bites are painful right when they occur. Symptoms, which usually begin right away, may include:

• Bleeding
• Breathing difficulty
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea and vomiting
• Numbness and tingling
• Pain at site of bite
• Shock
• Skin color changes
• Swelling
• Thirst
• Tiredness
• Tissue damage
• Weakness
• Weak pulse

Coral Snake Bite:

  Coral snake bites may be painless at first. Major symptoms may not develop for hours. Do NOT make the mistake of thinking you will be fine if the bite area looks good and you are not in a lot of pain. Untreated coral snake bites can be deadly. Symptoms may include:

• Blurred vision
• Breathing difficulty
• Convulsions
• Drowsiness
• Eyelid drooping
• Headache
• Low blood pressure
• Mouth watering (excessive salivation)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Numbness
• Pain and swelling at site of bite
• Paralysis
• Shock
• Slurred speech
• Swallowing difficulty
• Swelling of tongue and throat
• Weakness
• Skin color changes
• Skin tissue damage
• Stomach or abdominal pain
• Weak pulse

Copperhead snake bite:

Copperhead bites are painful when they occur. Symptoms usually begin right away and may include:

• Bleeding
• Breathing difficulty
• Blurred vision
• Eyelid drooping
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea and vomiting
• Numbness
• Pain at site of bite
• Paralysis
• Rapid pulse
• Skin color changes
• Swelling
• Tingling
• Tissue damage
• Thirst
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Weak pulse

Snake Bite Treatment:

The following is the best course of action for basic first aid treatment if bitten by a venomous snake.

• Remain calm – It is important to remain as calm as possible because the more excited the victim gets, the faster the heart will beat and the faster the poison will spread through the body.
• Immobilize the bitten arm or leg and stay as quiet as possible to keep the poison from spreading through your body.
• Remove jewelry before you start to swell – It is important to remove anything that will be restrictive as the tissue swells. This will lead to further injury and make if much more difficult for medical personnel in treatment.
• Position yourself, if possible, so that the bite is at or below the level of your heart. By keeping the extremity below the heart the poison will not spread as quickly.
• Cleanse the wound, but don't flush it with water, and cover it with a clean, dry dressing. By cleaning the wound if possible and time allows, will help reduce the chances of complications due to infections.
• Apply a splint to reduce movement of the affected area, but keep it loose enough so as not to restrict blood flow. Splinting will help keep the wounded area from being moved and help reduce the spread of the poison. When splinting, ensure that the cloth or other material used is not so tight that it reduces the arterial blood flow like a tourniquet would.
• Don't use a tourniquet or apply ice – If possible apply ice to help reduce tissue swelling and keep the poison as localized as possible. Applying a tourniquet will only cause further injury. Try to apply constricting bands above and below the injury, but only make them tight enough to reduce the small capillary blood flow to the superficial tissue.
• Don't cut the wound or attempt to remove the venom – Cutting the puncture wounds open will only cause more tissue damage without removing very much venom. Do not attempt to suck out the poison with your mouth as this will only cause the poison to get into your system. If you have one available use a snake bite kit sold at most outdoor or hunting stores.
• Don't drink caffeine or alcohol – Caffeine will only raise your heart rate causing the venom to spread quicker and alcohol has a blood thinning property which will cause the heart to be able to pump the venom through the body quicker.
• Don't try to capture the snake, but try to remember its color and shape so you can describe it, which will help in your treatment – If you attempt to capture the snake, you may be bitten as well. If you can safely kill the snake, then do so. Never pick up a snake that you think is dead because the nerves are still active for up to several hours after the snake’s death and you can be bitten.

  Call 911 or seek immediate medical attention, especially if the area changes color, begins to swell or is painful. Try to get medical treatment within 30 minutes or less if possible. You may also call the National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222), they can help assist you in first aid treatment while you wait for help to arrive.
Be Prepared:
 Always carry a cell phone and hand held radio (walkie talkie) when going into the wilderness for communication purposes, a local map of the area so you can give directions and use land marks as reference points, always tell someone where you are going and the general area you will be in and what time they should expect you back, and always carry a first aid kit with a snake bit kit included. Try to think of what can happen and then prepare for those situations as much as possible. 

Prevention:

Preventing snake bites:
  Some bites, such as those inflicted when you accidentally step on a snake in the woods, are nearly impossible to prevent. However, there are precautions that can reduce your chances of being bitten by a snake. These include:

• Leave snakes alone. Many people are bitten because they try to kill a snake or get too close to it.
• Avoid areas where snakes may be hiding, such as under rocks and logs. Avoid stepping directly over a fallen tree or log, instead use a long stick to poke in front and behind the log and then step onto it and jump a 2-3 feet away from the log, this will keep you out of the striking distance in most cases.
• Even though most snakes are not poisonous, avoid picking up or playing with any snake unless you have been properly trained.
• If you hike often, consider buying a snake bite kit (available from hiking supply stores). Do not use older snake bite kits, such as those containing razor blades and suction bulbs.
• Don't provoke a snake. That is when many serious snake bites occur.
• Tap ahead of you with a walking stick before entering an area where you can't see your feet. Snakes will try to avoid you if given enough warning.
• When hiking in an area known to have snakes, wear long pants and boots if possible.