Victim of a Snakebite

Being bitten by a snake is a terrifying experience, especially if you are unable to identify the type of snake that bit you. Snakebite specialists have agreed upon a common method of handling snakebites, including first-aid and physician treatment.

Rattlesnake Bites

• Remain calm and take deep breaths to relax yourself.
• Try to move slowly toward a telephone and call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.
• DO NOT try to capture or kill the snake; it will probably just bite you again.
• DO NOT cut the bite.
• DO NOT try to suck out the poison.
• DO NOT apply heat or cold to change the temperature of the bitten area.
• DO NOT apply electricity to your body.
• DO NOT apply meat tenderizer or other home remedies to the bite.
• DO NOT take any food, medications or alcohol.
• DO NOT remove any bandage that has been in place for a while. If bandages are too tight (no detectable pulse beyond the bandage), they should be loosened but not removed.
• Stop any severe bleeding with direct pressure to the wound. (Severe bleeding is rare, but you can expect even minor bites to ooze watery blood.)
• Contact local emergency medical personnel.
• A mechanical suction device may be of some value if used immediately.
• If no emergency medical care is available, get yourself to the nearest medical treatment facility- but keep calm, walk rather than run, drive safely rather than race.
• You were probably bitten on the hand or arm. Keep that arm down at your side- do not elevate it, even though elevating it may seem to relieve the pain. If you were bitten on the leg or foot, do not lie down for any length of time - try to stay on your feet or seated. Keep the bite below your heart.
• Some specialists recommend an ace bandage, applied without excess pressure above and below the bite, for rattlesnake bites.
• Once you reach the hospital, the physician will complete the steps necessary to administer the antivenom and monitor your progress.

Coral Snake Bite
Coral snake venom acts differently than rattlesnake venom. You should seek a physician's care for any and all coral snake bites, even if it did not appear to break the skin. It can take 48 hours or more for the effects of a coral snake bite to appear in a human being. The same techniques as above apply.

Non-Native Snakebite
Bites by venomous snakes that are not native to North America are especially dangerous because of the limited availability of the proper antivenoms. CONTACT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IMMEDIATELY. The treatment varies with the type of snake involved.