When you get bitten by a snake, you need to know what steps to take to deal with it. The goal is to slow down the spread of snake venom in the body, which can be fatal.
Snake bites are not only painful, they can also cause the bitten area to swell. Even if you don't get the right treatment right away, a venomous snake bite can be life threatening.
Do this if you are pecked by a snake
When you are bitten by a snake, you must seek medical attention immediately, especially if the area that was bitten changes color, swells, or is very painful.
Handling needs to be done immediately, because some snake venom contains neurotoxins, hemotoxins, cytotoxins, and cardiotoxins, which can endanger your health and even your life.
Here are some things you need to do while waiting for help from medical personnel or before you arrive at the hospital:
- Try to be calm.
- Remember the shape of the snake that bit you.
- Don't move too much. Minimize movement, especially on the part of the body that the snake pecked, to avoid spreading the venom to other parts of the body.
- Immediately remove accessories or tight clothing that is in the area of the bite to avoid swelling.
- Clean the wound, but do not flush the wound with water. After cleaning, cover the area with a clean, dry bandage or cloth.
- Place the bandage on the area of the body where the snake has pecked, using a large elastic bandage that is 10-15cm wide.
- Then bandage again starting from the area under the snakebite site, up to the snakebite area.
- If an elastic bandage is not available, use a cloth or other elastic clothing material.
- If possible, do a splint on the area of the body that the snake pecked. Use a stick or sturdy stick as a splint, then tie it tightly so that the body part doesn't move (immobilize).
- Lie down and don't move much until medical help arrives.
Meanwhile, avoid doing the things below:
- Sucking snake venom.
- Cutting or slashing the bite area.
- Applying ice, something warm, rubbing oil, or chemicals to the wound area.
- Massage the part that the snake has pecked.
- Drink caffeine or alcohol. Both of these drinks can accelerate the absorption of snake venom by the body.
- Move the limbs that are pecked by the snake.
What to do after being bitten by a snake
After you arrive at the hospital, the medical team will immediately evaluate the snakebite wound and your general health condition, then provide appropriate treatment.
The danger or not of a snake bite depends on your age, the type of snake, the location of the bite, and your overall health condition. If your snake bite is harmless, the doctor will clean the area of the bite wound and give you a tetanus vaccine.
However, if it is dangerous, the doctor will give you an anti-venom serum, which is a substance that can ward off snake venom specifically. That is why, you need to remember the characteristics of the snake that bit you.
The recovery process after being bitten by a snake depends on the type of snake biting. In adults, recovery usually takes more than three weeks. While in children, about 1-2 weeks.
During the recovery period, the snakebite area may still be swollen and painful. However, this can be relieved by taking anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers given by a doctor.
