First aid:
Keep the person calm, reassuring him that bites can be effectively treated in an emergency room. Restrict
movement, and keep the affected area below heart level to reduce the flow of venom.
Remove any rings or constricting items because the affected area may swell. Create a loose splint to help restrict movement of the area.
Lift a bitten arm or leg so that it is in level with the heart.
Clean the bite wound. Be sure to wipe in the direction away from the wound. If the area of the bite begins to swell and change color, the snake was probably
poisonous.
If medical help is more than 30 minutes away, tie an elastic constricting band two inches above the bite. The warp should be loose enough to slip a finger underneath it.
Do not bleed by cutting the wound.
Do not apply a tourniquet.
Do not try to suck the venom out of the wound.
Do not put ice on the bite.
Don’t give the victim stimulants or pain medications unless instructed to do so by a doctor.
Do not give the victim anything by mouth.
Some times, it so happens that a person is bitten by a snake when he is walking in field and in bushy paths. In case of a
snake bite we have to see whether it is poisonous or non- poisonous snake. Depending on the type of the snake, first-aid is given to the victim.
Poisonous snakebite is medical emergencies, and they can be deadly if not treated quickly. Children are at higher risk for death or serious complications because of their smaller body size. However, the right anti-venom can save a victim’s life. Getting the victim to an emergency room as quickly as possible is the top priority, as much snakebite if properly tread will not have any serious effects.
Before knowing how first-aid is given let us understand the mechanism through which the snake injects its poison into victim’s body. In the upper jaw, the snake has 2 fangs and poisonous glands. Behind the fangs, the glands of poison are located. From these glands a duct starts which opens into the fang. During a snake- bite the poison from the glands reaches the fangs through ducts. The poison finally enters into blood through the wound made on the victim’s body.
If a person is bitten by a non- poisonous snake, we find numerous scratches on the skin at the place of the bite.
The scratches are cleaned and antiseptic ointment is applied. Then he should be taken to a doctor for further medical help and advice.
If a person is bitten by a poisonous snake, we find only 1-2 scares on the skin at the place of the bite.
A cloth or an elastic belt or a tube made of rubber is tied tightly above and below of the place of bite. It is released for every 15 minutes and tied again. The victim should be given confidence and taken to the doctor immediately.
An ` antivenom’ injection is given by the doctor which antidotes the poison of snake and saves the life of the victim.