Step one: Do NOT attempt to suck out the venom.
From
avid gardeners to hikers, anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors runs
the risk of crossing paths with a poisonous snake. And if you think
you're not in a snake-prone state, think again. According to the CDC,
venomous snakes are found across the country, with the eastern and
southern states at higher risk. Some of the most common varieties are
copperheads, coral snakes, rattlesnakes and water moccasins (also
called cottonmouths).
Each year in the U.S., approximately 7,000 to 8,000 people get venomous snake bites. Globally, that number jumps to 2.4 million. Even
though the national figure isn't alarmingly high, bites can be fatal,
especially if proper steps aren't taken once the incident occurs.
One of the biggest myths surrounding treatment is that sucking the venom out will help. Do not do that. Cutting
or applying suction to the area will only cause more damage. You should
also avoid ice packs, tourniquets or any anti-inflammatory drugs like
ibuprofen.
If you get
bitten, the first and most important step is, of course, calling 911
and getting to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible. Until you
get there, here are a few things you can do on your own:
- Remove any tight-fitting clothes or jewelry.
- Take photos of the wound every 15 minutes. Capture the site of the wound and any other swollen area that appears on the skin. This will come in handy when you get to the hospital.
- Do not panic. Doing anything that increases your heart rate will spread the venom quicker.
Staying
calm when you've been bitten by a poisonous snake may sound impossible,
but let us offer some perspective: the chances of dying from a
lightning strike are higher. Out of the thousands of people bitten
each year, there are five or six fatalities, which means one out of every 50 million people will die from a venomous snakebite.
For tips on how to identify venomous serpents, updates on nearby snake sightings and more, download
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