Poisonous snake bite: what to do?

Snakes are fascinating animals but whose behavior and morphology scare many people. If they only attack Man when they feel threatened by him, bites of snakes on human beings remain a real risk, especially when hikes in tall grass. However, all snake bites do not present the same dangerousness for humans and it is therefore necessary to identify the group of snakes to which the one that caused the bite belongs.

So-called constrictor snakes, such as grass snakes, do not generally produce venom and rest and disinfection of the wound are in theory the only behaviors to adopt after the bite of a non-venomous snake. However, in the absence of naturalist and medical skills, it is still imperative to call the emergency services and adopt the recommended behavior in the event of poisonous snake bite. The description of the snake to the interlocutor of the emergency department can help him to determine what type of snake is responsible for the bite.

One bite, many symptoms

A venomous snake does not always inject venom when it bites, in this case it is a “dry bite”, which only generates symptoms local, such as points which are the traces of the hooks and a pain at the bitten area. In contrast, when the snake has injected venom, the area around the bite swells and a reaction œdematization takes place. This can extend over an area of ​​variable size and the gravity as well as the urgency of the situation depends on the area that was bitten.

Depending on the type of venom (e.g., that causes necrosis, prevents blood clotting, paralyzes the nervous system, causes muscle damage) that has been injected, the associated symptoms vary from a confused state to digestive disturbances ( stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea) and cardiovascular problems which can manifest themselves, for example, by a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. Depending on the amount of venom present in the body and the morphology of the person, the different symptoms can appear between half an hour and several hours after the bite, unless the person is allergic to the venom because in this case the symptoms appear very soon after the bite.

In case of anaphylactic shockthe life of the person is in danger because it encounters in particular a Cardiac arrythmia and difficulty breathing. People who know their allergy are therefore in possession ofadrenaline self-injectable. Moreover, in case of allergy or not, the following behavior is the one to adopt.

Coolness and simple gestures

It is important for the victim and those around him to keep their cool because the stress and activity increase speed at which the venom spreads through the body. Call the emergency services (15 or 112) and follow the advice given by the caller. In the absence of immediate access to the telephone and if the bitten person is unconscious, they must be placed in the lateral position of safety and ensure that they are breathing well. As indicated above, the area that has been bitten will swell, so objects and clothing (jewellery, shoes, for example) must be removed. pressure when’œdeme will form and ensure that the limb remains immobilized. In case of severe pain, it is possible to take paracetamol but noaspirin nest’anti-inflammatory as these thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding.

Mistakes not to make

Certain gestures are absolutely to be avoided, such as putting on a tourniquet, which can damage the bitten limb. In addition to disinfection of the wound with a antiseptic and cleaning it with soap and water, it must not be touched. It is therefore not necessary to use a kit anti-venom, attempt to suck the venom with the mouth or incise the wound to try to get the venom out of it. In any case, if the bitten person is accompanied, you must stay with them until help arrives and above all, once again, keep your cool.