Snake Bites

[yerrot254]

I have talked to way too many people that don't know about treatment for a snake bite. 

DO NOT

• Use a tourniquet
• Cut or attempt to suck out the venom

 

Google any medical website and the above will be listed as no not.

[Sheryl]

I would add what one should do:

 

1. Immobilize the area bitten with a splint or else just keep it as still as possible. 

 

2. Get to a hospital as quickly as possibly. Preferrably a large government hospital as they are the most likely to stock antivenom.  If the snake has been killed bring it along or if it is nearby then photograph it but don't delay matters or risk someone else  bring bitten for this purpose. 

[cjinchiangrai]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

I would add what one should do:

 

1. Immobilize the area bitten with a splint or else just keep it as still as possible. 

 

2. Get to a hospital as quickly as possibly. Preferrably a large government hospital as they are the most likely to stock antivenom.  If the snake has been killed bring it along or if it is nearby then photograph it but don't delay matters or risk someone else  bring bitten for this purpose. 

Correct, and don't go looking for the antivenom yourself, the hospital will bring it to you if they don't have it. You may need a ventilator fairly quickly so head to the nearest 24 hour hospital.

 

I asked at our local hospital and they said all of the hospitals in the province had the antivenom. The medical staff have seen plenty of snake bites, let them do their thing.

 

[giddyup]

Got bitten by a snake when I was 17 in Katherine, Northern Territory. It bit me and disappeared, to quick for me to identify. My grandfather who was fishing at the time cut the bite open with a fishing knife and sucked the wound. This was in the 60's, no one knew better. Long story short, I died.

[Jai Dee]

A troll post and a reply have been removed.

[Tropposurfer]

Aussie; Land of the Worlds most venomous and deadly snakes.

 

Aussie St Johns Ambulance procedure:

 

Wrap the limb from the wound upwards firmly (tighter than say a bandage for a cut or puncture injury - should not be able to put your finger under the bandage). 

Use anything at hand to do this like a few t-shirts ripped into strips.

 

Have someone calling for the ambulance immediately while others bandage the victim.

If in LOS I'd put them in a car and take them to the nearest clinic or hospital - Response times being what they are.

 

A clinic is better than the place they're bitten even though they may not have antivenin they have nurses, CPR experience, and defibrillator machines, intubation gear, which if you get a full blown strong or repetitive bites (some snakes do strike multiple times) rather than a reflexive fright-bite (often little to no venom in this type of bite) and you're are a far away from a hospital you just might need.

 

If pressure bandages are at hand and you have more than one, then wrap a bandage around the wound area first and quickly and up the limb as a start then bandage over that with a second bandage right up the limb as far as the bandage will go even around and over the shoulder as an example of an arm bite.

 

WASTE NO TIME IN WRAPPING THE WOUND!!!

WRAP THE LIMB AS IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING BITTEN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!

 

If bitten on the buttocks or trunk apply a pad and constant pressure on the general area of the bite.

 

Just as in the case of assessing if a person is breathing or not and needing CPR ... the bandaging of a snake bite must take absolute priority.

Don't mess around talking or trying to wander about looking for the snake to identify it. 

If you fear the snake may be still close then pick the victim up and move them calmly but quickly to a safe place.

 

Do NOT clean or wash the wound (medical staff will swab the bite area for venom traces).

 

Move the victim as little as possible. If possible carry victim to the means of transport.

 

Keep the victim as calm, still, and as quiet as you can. As venom begins to take effect it may be necessary to work at keeping the victim calm and still.

 

If the bite is on the legs or arms keep the limb below the heart.

 

If you're in LOS and know the snake is highly venomous e.g. a Malay Viper or A Green Viper and the time to medical experts is going to take time then be prepared to administer CPR should the patient go into cardiac arrest (don't talk that in front of the victim!). 

If its a spitting cobra not a puncture wound wash the eyes with copious amounts of water (can use milk) make sure they don't ingest the flushing water as it contains venom. 

 

Monitor vital signs. Keep the victim still and quiet ... this means talking too!

 

And be thankful your not in tiger, taipan, or king brown territory !????

 

 

Edited August 18, 2022 by Tropposurfer

[Sheryl]

31 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

Aussie; Land of the Worlds most venomous and deadly snakes.

 

Aussie St Johns Ambulance procedure:

 

Wrap the limb from the wound upwards firmly (tighter than say a bandage for a cut or puncture injury - should not be able to put your finger under the bandage). 

Use anything at hand to do this like a few t-shirts ripped into strips.

 

Have someone calling for the ambulance immediately while others bandage the victim.

If in LOS I'd put them in a car and take them to the nearest clinic or hospital - Response times being what they are.

 

A clinic is better than the place they're bitten even though they may not have antivenin they have nurses, CPR experience, and defibrillator machines, intubation gear

 

 

Most "clinics" in Thailand have none of these other than nurses

 

Do NOT waste time going to a clinic. Go to a hospital.

[hotchilli]

On 8/17/2022 at 10:47 PM, Sheryl said:

I would add what one should do:

 

1. Immobilize the area bitten with a splint or else just keep it as still as possible. 

 

2. Get to a hospital as quickly as possibly. Preferrably a large government hospital as they are the most likely to stock antivenom.  If the snake has been killed bring it along or if it is nearby then photograph it but don't delay matters or risk someone else  bring bitten for this purpose. 

I have heard that while not to use a tourniquet a pressure dressing/bandage over the wound and above is a good idea.

 

[IvorBiggun2]

9 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Do NOT waste time going to a clinic. Go to a hospital.

I disagree. I think you'd have better chance of surviving if you attend the the closest MRS (Medical Reception Station) to where you got bit. Be it hospital or clinic.

 

Quote

Around 60% to 70% of snake bites are dry bites and 95% snakes are non-venomous, she said. If the victim remains calm and is diagnosed well, a Tetanus injection and a little bit of anti-venom will suffice.

 

[Sheryl]

13 hours ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

I disagree. I think you'd have better chance of surviving if you attend the the closest MRS (Medical Reception Station) to where you got bit. Be it hospital or clinic.

 

 

I would not characterize what could be called a clinic in Thailand as an MRS. 

[Chongalulu]

On 8/18/2022 at 10:02 PM, Tropposurfer said:

Aussie; Land of the Worlds most venomous and deadly snakes.

It is,although widely recognised as the worlds most deadly snake is the African Black Mamba,for its speed and aggression along with nasty venom 

[crouchpeter]

One of the rescue workers here got bitten by a cobra. (They come and catch snakes as well). Went to Soi Dao hospital, but no anti-venene. Drove to Chantaburi Hospital, (1 hour), but he died on the way!

[sammieuk1]

I dispatched one last week in my garden species unknown no antivenom needed just a rake ????

[connda]

I walked right by a small cobra the other day.  Never saw it.  I was letting our dogs into a fenced area and one of the dogs started barking at it.  It was within a couple of feet of the gate I came through.  Realistically?  Getting bit could be just that fast without even seeing the snake.  Scary stuff.