If you are confident that you were bitten by a non-venomous snake, treat the bite site as a puncture wound and clean and wrap it appropriately. Continue to monitor the wound for bacterial infection. If you’re unsure about the type of snake that bit you, err on the side of caution by assuming that you’ve been envenomated and proceed accordingly.
Blurred or disturbed vision Swelling or discoloration around the bite, especially redness Fang puncture marks (some snakes will only puncture with one of their fangs) Tingling or numbness Intense pain at the bite site Vomiting, nausea, or stomach cramps Breathing problems
Your surroundings. Where are you? Is there a trail or road nearby? Do you recall seeing any signs or landmarks recently? Your resources. Do you have a first-aid kit with you? A snakebite kit? If not, what resources do you have? What about a cell phone or two-way radio? If you do have a cell phone with you, make sure to install a first-aid app before you head out. Distance from help. When you set off into the wilderness, did you pass a ranger station or medical station? Are you still close enough that you can reasonably get back to a main road and a hospital? If you were to call EMS, how quickly could they reach you? Consider hiking with a PLB (personal locator beacon) if you plan on being out of cellphone coverage. Immediate danger. You’ve been bitten by a snake and are in the wilderness, which is dangerous. But look around to consider any other immediate danger such as other snakes, weather, other animals, or life-threatening allergies.
Don’t wait until pain or swelling becomes too much before calling for help. You risk your own safety, and if you wait too long, it will be too late for the antivenom to be effective. [3] X Research source When you call for help, give the emergency operator your best location, either as a mile marker or landmark. Emergency operators are trained to provide pre-arrival instructions, which you should follow exactly, until help arrives.
It is suggested that you circle the bite location with a pen and note the time that you were bitten so that doctors can track the progress of the venom through your body, once help arrives.
Remove (or ask another person to remove) any jewelry or tight clothing quickly. These tight items must be removed because you might swell at the bite location, and your jewelry or tight clothing may not be able to accommodate that swelling.
The best case scenario would be to lie down, keeping your head elevated above your heart, and the bite below your heart, which will slow the spread of venom in your bloodstream.
Your goal is to wash the skin. Don’t attempt to flush the bite area with water or any other liquid. [4] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Pressure immobilization bandages are bandages that are firmly wrapped around the entire extremity that was bitten. Be sure that you don’t wrap your immobilization bandage too tight. The purpose of this wrapping is to keep your appendage from moving while the pressure slows the spread of the venom. [6] X Research source
Along these lines, don’t ever apply ice or an ice pack to a snakebite. This won’t slow the spread of venom, can lead to tissue damage, and ultimately, can make the injury substantially worse.
Many snakebite kits still have suction devices in them, but experts agree that they shouldn’t be used.
Vipers hibernate in the cold and typically mate in the spring and fall, when the weather is warm. Vipers live in all types of climates and can be terrestrial, arboreal, or even aquatic (Water Moccasins). Elapidae snakes are typically elusive and are proficient burrowers. This family of snake usually spends their time underground, except during breeding season or rain. There are some Elapidae, however, that primarily live up in the trees or lurk in fallen leaves. Sea snakes live in warmer waters, but still come to the surface for air because they lack gills (which makes them easy to distinguish from eels).
Many types of animals use camouflage to protect themselves and snakes are no exception. Some non-venomous snakes can even make their head shape more triangular when threatened, mimicking their venomous pit viper cousins.
Vipers have a triangular head, which is wider than the neck. These snakes are often described as a bit fat. Vipers also have long fangs for deep penetration. The Elapids have heads that are covered in relatively large scales and their heads are about the same width as their necks. Sea snakes have flattened tails (to help them swim) and small heads.
Snakes in the Viper family have elliptical pupils, which distinguishes them from similarly marked or colored snakes with round pupils. [14] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source The Elapid and Hydrophidae, or Sea snake, families both have round pupils.
Viper venom can contain a variety of toxins: necrotizing, causing death of tissue near the bite; anti coagulating, which prevents the blood from clotting, and hemotoxic, causing a very painful bite, and blood issues, such as anemia and, rarely, kidney failure. [15] X Research source Elapidae venom contains neurotoxins, or nerve toxins, of which there are several varieties, such as presynaptic and dendrotoxins. [16] X Research source Hydrophidae venom is neurotoxic and myotoxic, which can cause muscle pain, or the other extreme, renal failure and cardiac arrest. [17] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
There should really be no reason for you to approach a dead snake in the wilderness; however, if you do, take necessary precautions and stay a good distance away from the animal. Touch the snake with a long stick if necessary, so that any post-mortem reflexive biting will be targeted on the stick and not your hand or foot.
Many varieties of snakes will hiss to alert you that they see you and are uncomfortable with your presence and is meant as a warning sound to other animals, since snakes don’t have ears. The well-known rattle of a snake’s tail is distinctive to the Pit Viper family (rattlesnakes) and this warning should be taken very seriously. If you’re traveling to the wilderness, make sure to listen to several audio clips[22] X Research source of actual rattlesnake rattles so that you can immediately identify the sound if necessary. [23] X Research source Some snakes emit a smell as a warning to other animals, although there is debate as to whether this is exclusive to venomous snakes. What can be agreed upon is that venomous snakes typically emit a defensive smell: some give off sickeningly sweet, sometimes putrid, odor and others emit the smell of cucumbers or melons. [24] X Research source Even the more aggressive species of snakes will usually avoid a confrontation if given the chance to flee. A bite is usually a last resort for a snake and will be preceded by warnings, such as sounds and smells.
Even a small fire will give off residual heat long after the flames have died out, and that residual heat, especially if you surround your fire with rocks, will attract snakes. [25] X Research source
Poking the ground with a stick is especially important when you’re walking through tall grass.
