First aid for a snake bite. Bitten by a snake, how to help a person

Most of all known species snakes are poisonous. They surround a person everywhere, so it is important to know what first aid is for a snake bite in order to avoid death.

Bite poisonous snake represents great danger for a person. The most dangerous species are considered to be the Central Asian cobra, viper and efa, which are not found in Russia. Other types of snakes, including the viper, are not so dangerous to humans; after their bites, deaths occur much less frequently, but severe complications often develop. On the territory of Russia, the most common types of venomous snakes are the common viper, steppe viper, Caucasian viper, and common copperhead viper.

What to do if you are bitten by a snake: first aid

It is not difficult to recognize a poisonous snake bite; the following symptoms and signs of such a violation of tissue integrity are distinguished:

  1. At the site of the bite, two spots from snake teeth are visible.
  2. The first time after a snake attack, a slight pain, burning, swelling and redness of the skin are felt at the site of the injury.
  3. There is a rapid spread of edema throughout the entire limb, the person is worried about weakness and dizziness.
  4. Allergic reactions often develop, in which swelling of the larynx occurs and breathing becomes difficult.

These symptoms develop within half an hour after a snake bite. They make it possible to determine the cause of a change in a person’s well-being if the snake was not noticed by him.

First aid if a person is bitten by a snake should be provided immediately.

  1. A person must accept horizontal position and be completely at rest, since any body movements increase lymph and blood circulation, promoting faster spread snake venom through the bloodstream.
  2. If a snake or viper bites through clothing, it must be removed as quickly as possible, as poison may remain on it. When providing first aid for a poisonous snake bite if it has bitten a person’s hand, you should free it from rings and bracelets, as it will swell.
  3. Providing first aid for a snake bite also includes applying a bactericidal patch or sterile bandage to the wound site. Such actions will prevent bacterial infection from entering the wound. The bandage must be loosened as swelling of the injured limb increases.
  4. A compressive bandage must be applied along the entire length of the limb at a pressure of 40-70 mmHg. Art. – for the upper limb, and 55-70 mm Hg. Art. - for the bottom. The effectiveness of such actions depends on the correct application of the bandage. Weak compression of the limb is ineffective, strong compression is also not recommended, as it can lead to local ischemic tissue damage. The bandage should be applied so that the victim experiences comfortable compression without causing discomfort, and a finger can be placed under the bandage.
  5. It is important to provide the victim with plenty of fluids. The liquid will speed up the process of removing snake venom from the body. Let's drink clean water, but strong black tea is better.
  6. Analgesic drugs will reduce pain, therefore, having a first aid kit on hand, you should give the victim a painkiller tablet.
  7. To reduce swelling of the injured limb, cold should be applied to the site of tissue damage.

Many medical guidelines for first aid after a venomous snake bite recommend sucking out the venom from the wound to prevent it from entering the bloodstream. It is advisable to carry out such manipulations in the first 15 minutes after a person is attacked by a poisonous snake. You should know that the poison does not pose a danger to the person who sucks it out only if the oral mucosa is intact. If there is even minor damage in the mouth or lips - wounds, scratches, ulcers, it is prohibited to suck out the poison.

After providing first aid for a snake bite, it is necessary to quickly transport the victim to medical institution, while he should be in a lying position.

Prohibited actions when bitten by a snake

First aid for snake and viper bites consists not only of what to do, but also includes the exclusion of prohibited actions.

The following actions are prohibited:

  • incisions and cauterization of the wound, injection of the bite site with medications, you can only treat the mark of the viper’s teeth with iodine or other antiseptic for the purpose of disinfection;
  • drinking alcohol - alcoholic drinks only speed up the process of absorption of snake venom and increase the degree of intoxication of the body.

The consequence of a snake bite can be tissue necrosis at the site of damage, followed by the development of necrosis and gangrene. This is why it is so important to provide first aid for a snake bite. Wrong actions specialists and surrounding people can lead to the loss of a finger or an entire limb by the victim.

Treatment for snake bite

Providing first aid for snake bites makes it possible to avoid many dangerous complications that threaten not only the health, but also the life of the injured person. To completely restore tissue functions and eliminate traces of poison from the body, special treatment for snake bites is used in medicine.

In modern medicine, a specific antidote against snake venom is used - a medicinal serum, which is obtained by hyperimmunization of horses. Each type of snake has its own type of serum.

In addition to the use of serum, which should only be administered by a doctor, symptomatic treatment is carried out. Analgesics are used to reduce pain intensity and antihistamines. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe cardiac support medications.

Instructions

It is not recommended to apply a tourniquet to the injured limb; this will only increase the degree of damage that occurs under the influence of the poison. A tight bandage that pinches the blood vessels will not give the desired effect, since, in most cases, the poison spreads through the lymphatic system.

The victim's companions should not suck out the poison from the wound; even minor injuries in the oral cavity can contribute to intoxication of their body. An alternative is to squeeze out the venom by pressing your fingers into the skin around the wound. So you can use a small amount of snake venom.

The right decision will provide the victim with peace. It needs to be given plenty of water, thereby slightly diluting the poison. It is necessary to immobilize and fix the damaged area of ​​the body using any hard objects.

Video on the topic

note

When planning to relax outdoors in places where snakes may appear, you should carefully select clothing appropriate to the area, move carefully in tall grass, at dusk and in poor visibility, and always remain vigilant. Such caution will not allow you to spoil your rest and mood.

Snake venom enters tissue cells through the membranes and increases their permeability. Therefore, when bitten, the poison quickly spreads throughout the body. First aid should be provided immediately after a snake attack.

First aid provided for , usually includes applying a tight bandage to prevent the spread of poison. However, this measure does not work, and they are taken to the hospital with severe poisoning and extensive necrotic lesions of the stretched areas.

First aid for a snake bite

A person bitten by a snake must remain calm. This will not only allow you to quickly use the means at hand, but will also prevent the spread of poison throughout the body. In case of panic, blood flow accelerates significantly. And poisoning of the body will occur much faster.

If a person was not alone in the forest during a snake attack, his friend should help the victim lie down and inspect the site of the lesion. Snake bite consists of two bleeding wounds.

The poison from the wounds should be sucked out, spitting regularly. After the procedure, you must thoroughly rinse your mouth. It is recommended to rinse your mouth for at least 15 minutes! If the person sucking out the poison does not have any wounds in his mouth, the procedure is safe for him.

Sometimes a person is not sure that he has sucked out the poison completely. You can place an improvised jar at the site of the bite using a small glass container. The jar should be held for 1 minute.

Often these measures do not work, since the poison must be sucked out within the first seconds after the bite. In addition, the edges of the wound may close tightly, which also prevents the extraction of poison.

It is recommended to secure the two joints closest to the bite site with a bandage, like limbs, squeezing the lymphatic vessels. The victim should drink plenty of fluids, preferably using diuretics. It should not be consumed as it will interfere with the removal of the poison through drug therapy.

The victim must be taken to the hospital. If it is not possible to call " ambulance", you should take the person to the emergency room yourself. If there is no transport, you need to ask if one of your neighbors has the Anti-Viper serum. If it is present, it is necessary to give a subcutaneous injection in the area between the shoulder blades 25-30 minutes after taking 1-2 tablets.

Prohibited actions when bitten by a snake

Do not apply a tourniquet to the bitten area by tightening the limb. The poison has necrotizing properties and causes irreversible tissue damage.

The venom penetrates deeply into the tissue, so cauterizing the bite site is useless. The only effect that can be obtained from this is a local burn and the appearance.

It is useless to cut the tissue so that the poison comes out along with the blood. The poison spreads much faster

Many snakes are extremely dangerous to humans - their venom can seriously harm health or even kill.

An attack by a snake in nature - in a forest, field, near water - is considered an accident, and often the person who carelessly disturbed the reptile is to blame for it. Snakes rarely attack on their own. In any case, first aid for a snake bite should be provided to a person immediately, as the poison can spread throughout the body and cause even more harm.

Dangerous neighborhood

Often the problem with medical care for snake bites is that it is not known which snake is venomous and which is not, and whether immediate action is needed. Emergency assistance in open nature is difficult, so it is better to familiarize yourself with the types of poisonous snakes that are found in these latitudes in advance (before a hike, picnic, etc.). In the vast expanses of the CIS, the most people suffer from vipers; in warmer latitudes it can be vipers, cobras (the easiest to recognize), and sand ephas.

One of the defining characteristics of venomous snakes is their slit-like eyes and triangular head shape. Sizes and colors may vary.

When bitten by a snake that you find difficult to identify, it is considered poisonous by default. Moreover, the individual reactions of the human body, even to a harmless reptile, can be different - from fever to delirium.

Signs of a poisonous snake bite

To distinguish whether a snake bite was truly dangerous and a person was at risk, you should know the most common signs of the onset of the effects of snake venom on the body.

  • On the victim’s body, at the site of the alleged bite, one, and more often two, points are clearly visible. These may be wounds or small scratches; droplets of blood may appear in their place.
  • The bite site begins to hurt, itch, swell, swelling forms on it and around it, which spreads to neighboring areas.
  • The victim experiences an increase or decrease in temperature, has a fever, and breaks out in cold sweat.
  • A drowsy state, sometimes accompanied by slight fainting.
  • Nausea and vomiting as a reaction of the body's resistance to poison.
  • Muscle weakness, legs feel weak, noise in the ears.
  • Visual disturbances are observed - most often there may be double vision or darkness in the eyes.
  • Breathing becomes difficult, it becomes shallow and intermittent.

Any of these signs is cause for concern and requires immediate action. Help needed turns out to the victim on the spot, without waiting for the arrival of the medical team or his transportation to the hospital.

Giving help

The very first thing to do after a snake bite is to send someone for an ambulance or transport, as the victim needs to be sent to the hospital as quickly as possible for antivenom. While qualified assistance is being organized, immediate measures should be taken to reduce damage to the victim’s health.

  • The person must be immobilized; the most important thing here is to clearly fix the affected limb. The bites of poisonous snakes are dangerous because the poison penetrates the lymph and, spreading through the lymphatic vessels, gradually penetrates the blood. Any movement means muscle contraction, which can cause the poison to spread further. To preserve cerebral circulation, the victim is placed so that the head is lower than the level of the legs.
  • If the snake has bitten a limb through clothing, it must be removed. Firstly, remnants of the poison may remain there, and secondly, access will be provided directly to the wound, which will need to be treated.
  • It is also recommended to remove all bracelets, rings and other constrictive items (if the bite is on the arm) or shoes (if the bite is on the leg). Since the limb swells in most cases, it must be freed in advance from objects dangerous for edema.
  • Most manuals then recommend that you begin to suck out the venom from the wound, but this is only partly true. The amount of poison extracted will be very small. Therefore, proceed to suctioning the poison only if you have time to wait for help. It should be remembered that there should be no wounds, scratches or inflammations in the mouth of the first aid provider - otherwise the poison will penetrate into his body. It is also necessary to spit every time after sucking out the poison.
  • The bite wound should be treated with brilliant green or iodine and covered with a band-aid. You can disinfect with other means at hand and use a sterile bandage, if one is available. This will not help neutralize the poison, but it will prevent blood poisoning and wound rotting, which is also very important.
  • A bandage must be applied along the entire length of the affected limb. Its pressure should be such that it does not cause severe discomfort, and you can put your finger under it. You should not bandage it more strongly - this can cause damage to muscle tissue; a weaker bandage will be ineffective. If it is not possible to apply a bandage along the entire length, you can limit yourself to a small bandage above the bite site. As swelling progresses, it needs to be loosened.
  • The victim should be given plenty of fluids so that tissue breakdown products are washed out of the body. The patient should also be given analgesics to dull the pain. If there is a clear allergic reaction to the poison, give antihistamines.
  • The patient should be transported to a hospital or civilization only on a stretcher, securely securing the injured limb - it is best to tie it to a stick or board.

Snake attack is much

  • Every year in the world, more than 2 million people suffer from the bite of poisonous snakes, of whom about 120 thousand die.
  • The aggressiveness of snakes increases during their molting and mating season.
  • Most often, a snake attacks a person only in case of self-defense.
  • The snake's speed during an attack can reach 3.5 meters per second. During the throw, the snake covers a distance of up to 1/3 of its length.
  • In 70% of cases, snake bites occur on the lower limbs of a person.
  • The most severe bites from venomous snakes occur in women, children and people under the influence of alcohol.

Types of poisonous snakes

In Russia, there are 14 species of poisonous snakes; most often, people suffer from bites from reptiles of three families: 1) the colubrid family, 2) the viper family, 3) the aspid family.
  1. Family of already-like

    :
Already ordinary


Common copperhead

The bites of these snakes do not pose a threat to health or life. However, the bite is accompanied by painful sensations and suppuration of the wound may develop.
  1. Viper family

Common viper
The viper's head is shaped like the tip of a spear. The scutes covering the head are small and practically do not differ from those on the body. The eyes are small in size, with a small ridge protruding above them. The head is separated from the body by a sharp cervical interception. The body is short and thick. The tail is blunt and short.

The snake is quite peaceful and bites only if it is pursued, grabbed or stepped on. At the sight of a person, the viper always hurries to crawl away, hide, or lies quietly.

The mortality rate after being bitten by a common viper is about 1%. This is due to the fact that the viper injects a small amount of poison into the victim. She saves it, since the production of poison is a very energy-intensive process and takes a lot of strength from the snake.

Poison injection mechanism
The viper has hollow large fangs with a deep groove. The snake injects venom into the victim thanks to a reflex contraction of the temporal muscles that surround the venom-carrying glands.

When bitten, the poison can get under the skin, into muscle tissue or into the lumen of a victim’s vessel. A bite into the lumen of a vessel is more severe due to the fact that the poison spreads faster throughout the body causing various disorders. There may be cases when the bite occurs with one fang, as a result of which a smaller dose of poison is injected and the poisoning proceeds more easily.
Components of poison and their effects on the body

The main components of the poison are enzymes that break down different kinds tissues (hyalorunidase, phospholipase, proteases), as well as toxic amino acids, proteins and carbohydrates.

  • Hyaluronidase– breaks down connective tissue, destroys the walls of small capillaries, increases the permeability of tissues to water and ions.

  • Phospholipase– splitting the lipid layer of red blood cells leads to their destruction (red blood cell hemolysis).
The above enzymes increase the permeability of cell membranes (mast cells) containing biological active substances(histamine, heparin, etc.), which leads to their release and the manifestation of inflammatory and allergic reactions (swelling, redness, pain, itching).

Viper venom - contains hyaluronidase and phospholipase and destroys the walls of blood vessels, red blood cells, proteins, forms blood clots inside the vessels, leading to circulatory disorders. In addition, the poison disrupts cardiac and liver function, and also disrupts water-mineral balance.

The poison spreads throughout the body primarily through the lymphatic vessels, less through the bloodstream and nerve fibers.

The poison is eliminated through the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, the exocrine glands (mammary glands) and the kidneys.

How does a viper attack?


Symptoms of a poisonous snake bite

Most often bites non-venomous snakes They leave only small scratches on the body. The bite of a poisonous snake leaves deep punctures from the teeth, through which the poison is injected.

Local symptoms of a viper bite

  • 1 or 2 punctures from snake teeth in the form of small dots
  • Relatively mild pain at the bite site
  • Burning
  • Redness
  • Swelling after 10-30 minutes, sometimes significant
  • Possible presence of pinpoint hemorrhages, bloody blisters
  • Possible areas of skin dying
  • The skin becomes purple-bluish in color
General symptoms
  • Nausea
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Heartbeat
  • Decreased body temperature

In case of severe intoxication:

  • Confusion
  • Weakness
  • Pale skin
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Sweating
  • Cold extremities
  • As symptoms increase, the following appears: fever, shortness of breath, possible loss of consciousness, and the development of renal failure.

3. Adder family

  • Central Asian cobra
Description: the color of the upper body is from light olive to brown, the abdomen is light, yellowish. The pupil is large. Transverse stripes, the younger the snake, the brighter they are; with age, the stripes on the abdomen disappear. The snake's scales are smooth.
The cobra warns of an attack: it expands its neck, makes a loud hiss, and raises the front part of its body. Often the cobra will perform a feint attack without using a bite. In such an attack, the cobra only hits the enemy with its head with its mouth closed, thereby protecting the poisonous teeth from possible breakage and preserving the poison.

Components of the poison and their effects on the body:

  • The main toxins: neurotoxin - acting on nerve cells, as well as a toxin acting on the heart muscle - cardiotoxin;
  • Damaging enzymes: phospholipase, hyaluronidase, cholinesterase.
Neurotoxin - the main toxin of cobra venom, which blocks sensitive skin receptors, as well as the conduction of nerve impulses along nerve fibers, causing disruption reflex activity, paresis and paralysis of the limbs.

Local symptoms:

  • Burning pain in the bite area (subsides within a few hours)
  • Swelling (not as severe as swelling from a viper bite)
  • The color of the skin in the area of ​​the bite is not changed
  • Bloody fluid oozes from the wound for some time.
  • The functions of the affected limb are impaired, paralysis develops, which begins to spread upward, involving the muscles of the torso and face, the eyelids and lower jaw droop, and the movement of the eyeballs is impaired.
General symptoms:
  • Intoxication develops quickly, almost immediately after the bite
  • Weakness
  • Vague concern
  • Loss of coordination, unsteady gait
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Nausea
  • Hiccups
  • Vomit
  • Swallowing disorder
  • Salivation
  • Speech is impaired, becoming slurred and silent.
  • Cardiac activity weakens
  • Possible involuntary urination and defecation
  • Death can occur from respiratory arrest after 2-7 hours

What determines the severity of the bite?

  • The body weight of the victim, the smaller the weight, the more severe the reaction to the bite. Snake bites are especially difficult for small children.
  • State of health (presence of concomitant diseases);
  • Place of the bite (bites on the neck and head are more dangerous, as well as when the bite falls on a blood vessel);
  • The higher the air temperature, the faster the symptoms of intoxication develop;
  • Snake size (than larger than a snake, the more poison she has);
  • The amount of poison injected. Sometimes it happens that a bite can be completely harmless and contain no poison. This situation can occur if the snake has recently used poison and it has not yet had time to develop. The viper's venom accumulates gradually.

How to assess the severity of poisoning?

Snakes Degree
gravity
poisoning
Pain Edema Bloody
bubbles
Tissue destruction (necrosis) Muscle twitching General signs
Vipers and pit vipers Lightweight Local and only in the first hours after the bite Slight in the bite area No No No In rare cases, slight shortness of breath and palpitations in the first hours after the bite
Average Burning expressed Rarely. When applying a tourniquet - often; rarely No Shortness of breath, palpitations, rarely nausea and fever, circulatory disorders
Heavy Burning with spread Sharply expressed, extends to the entire limb or part of the body often often No Drowsiness in the first hours, shortness of breath, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, impaired liver and kidney function, severe circulatory disorders.
Adders and sea snakes Lightweight Local pain 1-2 hours after the bite. rarely No No No A short-term feeling of stiffness and loss of sensitivity in the affected limb.
Average Same rarely No No Weak, quickly passing, tremor of the eyelids and fingers General weakness, feeling of numbness and stiffness of the affected limb, dysfunction of the lower limbs.
Heavy Uncertain in nature with distribution throughout the body. minor No No Severe, especially in the extremities, muscle spasms of the fingers Lethargy, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, paresis and paralysis of the limbs, lips, tongue, blurred vision.

First aid for a snake bite

What should you not do if you are bitten by a snake?

  • Apply a tourniquet. The tourniquet sharply disrupts blood circulation in the bite area and significantly increases the degree of tissue damage. Applying a tourniquet for 20-30 minutes sharply worsens general state sick.
  • Making cuts to allow “poisoned blood” to flow out has a high probability of damaging a nerve, vessel or tendon, as well as causing an infection.
  • Cauterize the bite site.
  • You should not drink alcohol, it only accelerates the spread of poison.
  • Injecting the bite site with novocaine or adrenaline impairs local blood supply and aggravates tissue damage.

What to do, step by step guide

Step by step guide: How? For what?
  1. Suck out the poison
  • Start immediately after the bite, 5-10 minutes after is already very late!
  • Before sucking out the venom, it is necessary to slightly open the punctures made by the snake’s teeth. To do this, grab a fold of skin in the area of ​​the bite and lightly crush it. When the punctures open, small droplets of liquid appear on their surface.
  • Grab the tissue surrounding the wound with your teeth, while sucking out the poison, and press down the surrounding tissue with your hands. When sucking out liquid containing poison, spit it out immediately. The procedure must be performed quickly and vigorously. The duration of the procedure is up to 15-20 minutes.
After a bite, the poison immediately begins to spread through the lymphatic and circulatory system.
By slightly opening the punctures made by the snake's teeth, the efficiency of venom extraction increases.
The fact that poison can enter the body from the oral cavity and cause poisoning, especially with wounds or diseased teeth, is only a theory that is not confirmed in practice. Thousands of professional snake catchers use this technique, and there have never been any reported cases of poisoning.
Timely sucking out of the venom saves lives and reduces the number of complications after a bite. Timely initiation of poison suction can remove up to 50% of the injected poison.
  1. Disinfect the wound
Any antiseptic will do, but it is better not to use alcohol or alcohol solutions, since alcohol accelerates the penetration of poison into the body:
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Weak solution of potassium permanganate
  • Zelenka et al.
Gently wipe the bite area. Apply a loose, clean bandage.
Disinfection of the wound is performed to prevent infection and the development of a suppurative process.
Viper venom has an antimicrobial effect, so the wound should be disinfected only if the venom has been suctioned out.
  1. Ensure complete rest of the bitten limb and the entire body
After a bite, completely limit movement in the bitten limb. Install the tire. If possible, take a horizontal position, maintaining complete peace and tranquility. Remove rings and bracelets if the bite is on your hand. Any movements in the limb accelerate the movement of blood and lymph through the vessels, which accelerates the spread of poison throughout the body.
Rings and bracelets can make swelling worse.
  1. Apply a compression bandage
The entire limb where the bite occurred should be wrapped.
The bandage should comfortably compress the limb without causing discomfort, so that the finger can easily penetrate under the bandage.

On the upper limb, the pressure of the bandage should be 40-70 mmHg. and 55-70 for the lower limb.

A moderately tight bandage compresses the lymphatic vessels and superficial veins, which slows down the spread of poison throughout the body and does not disrupt tissue nutrition, which is carried out by the deep veins and arteries. However, excessive pressure from the bandage can cause local tissue damage due to the complete lack of blood circulation in the area.
  1. If possible, apply ice to the bite site
You can use ice, but be sure to wrap it in a towel or other cloth. Beware of frostbite; as soon as you feel discomfort, take it off for a while (5-7 minutes). Cold applied to the bite area slows down the spread of poison and the development of the inflammatory reaction, reduces swelling and pain.
  1. Reduce symptoms of inflammation, allergic reaction, prevent the development of shock.
Take antihistamines:
Suprastin, diphenhydramine, pipolfen - administered intramuscularly 1 ml 1% or orally suprastin: 2 tablets. 3 r. per day, Loratadine: 1 tab. in a day; Levocetirizine: 1 tablet. in a day;
If possible, administer glucocorticoid drugs:
  • Prednisolone 30-60 mg intramuscularly or orally (1 tablet 5 mg);
  • Dexamethasone (2-4 mg);
Antihistamines block the action of histamine, one of the main substances of inflammation and allergic reactions.
Hormonal agents such as prednisolone have powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-shock effects.
  1. Reduce symptoms of intoxication

  • Drink as much fluid as possible (up to 3-5 liters per day);
  • Warm alkalizing drink, recommended for viper bites - (1-2 teaspoons of soda per 1 liter of water).
  • Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and vitamin P;
  • If possible, place a drip: 5% glucose solution 400 ml intravenously
  • If the pressure is reduced, rheopolyglucin solution 400 ml intravenously.
A large number of The ingested liquid accelerates the removal of toxins from the body.
Alkaline drinking reduces the toxicity of viper venom.
Vitamins accelerate the metabolic processes of neutralizing toxins.
  1. If necessary, stimulate cardiac and respiratory activity
  • Medications: cordiamine, ephedrine, caffeine.
  • If the heart or breathing stops, begin resuscitation: chest compressions and artificial respiration.
Cordiamine– stimulates respiratory and cardiovascular function.
Ephedrine- increases the strength and frequency of heart contractions, constricts blood vessels, reduces swelling, increases blood pressure, dilates the bronchi, stimulates the central nervous system.
Caffeine– stimulates the respiratory and vasomotor center, increases the strength and frequency of heart contractions, increases blood pressure, dilates the bronchi, increases the formation and excretion of urine.
  1. Administer antidote
  • Serum "Antigyurza"
It acts against the venom of viper and the venom of snakes of the viper family. Injected under the skin, for mild poisoning - 500 IU, for severe poisoning - 1500-3000 IU. Ampoules of 500 IU 2-5 ml.
To prevent anaphylactic shock, the serum is administered according to certain rules. At the beginning, 0.1 ml of serum is administered, after 10-15 minutes 0.25 ml, if it does not cause a reaction, the rest of the serum is administered. The serum can also be used for cobra, karakurt and scorpion bites.
  • Serum "Anticobra" – used for cobra bite – Amp. 10 ml.
It is advisable to administer the serum no later than the first day after the bite. In severe cases, the serum is reintroduced.
The serum binds the components of the poison and eliminates the destructive effect of the poison on the body. A timely administered serum will save lives!
The serum is most effective in the first hours of intoxication.

Forecast

With modern treatment, the prognosis for bites from venomous snakes is favorable. Deaths occur rarely, more often due to delayed treatment or severe concomitant diseases of the victim.

Prevention

  • Don't provoke the snake! The snake is a peace-loving animal and will never attack itself.
  • Don't step on the snake, be careful and watch your step.
  • When you see a snake, do not scream or make sudden movements.
  • When entering a potentially hazardous area, wear Wellingtons and thick clothes.
  • Before walking through thick, tall grass, make sure there are no snakes there. Use a stick or other available means.
  • Choose a suitable place to stay overnight. It is better if it is a hill with sparse and low vegetation, away from rocks and holes.
  • Don't leave tents open.
  • Before getting into your sleeping bag, check for snakes.

First aid

In case of electric shock For thermal burns
In case of poisoning with poisonous mushrooms For acute appendicitis
For poisonous snake bites For frostbite
In case of drowning
Poisonous snake bites.

Snakes usually do not attack humans, and if they do attack, it is only in self-defense, when they want to catch them, kill them, or simply accidentally step on them. Snakes are most aggressive when they emerge from hibernation and just before entering it.

The release of snake venom can also occur when manipulating an almost dead snake due to the post-mortem reflex action of the snake's head, or even when an unintentional finger prick with the poisonous fang of a preserved snake.

When applied directly, a wound is formed - two red dots. Sometimes there may be only one red dot at the site of the bite, which means that the snake has a broken tooth or the bite was made from the side.

After the bite, the victim develops anxiety, general weakness, convulsions, thirst, and dizziness. Vomiting, blood in the urine, and respiratory and cardiac problems may also occur. There is sharp pain, swelling, redness, blisters, and hemorrhages at the site of the bite.

The body weight of the victim, his state of health, as well as the location of the bite are very important. Bite to the head or torso two to three times more dangerous than a bite into a limb; Moreover, bites to the lower extremities are less dangerous than to the upper extremities. Accidental penetration of a poison-conducting tooth into a blood vessel and direct injection of poison there is usually fatal.

To prevent the absorption of poison into the blood and other tissues, it is recommended to suck out the poison from the wound with your mouth, but provided that there is no damage to the mucous membrane of the mouth and lips. Bloody liquid sucked out by mouth must be quickly spit out. After removing the poison, the wound is treated with hydrogen peroxide, but in no case with alcohol or ether, which can promote the absorption of the poison. A dry bandage is applied to the bite site, and a splint is applied to the affected limb.

If you have a syringe and antivenom serum, inject it subcutaneously into the bite site within the first 20 minutes. At the same time, it is important not to overdose the serum, since the wrong dosage can cause even more harm than the bite itself.

The victim should be placed on his side or back, covered warmly, and provided with complete rest, since rest reduces the metabolism, distribution and absorption of poison.

To avoid dehydration, the victim is given drinking plenty of fluids. However, he should not be given alcohol, tea, or coffee, as they stimulate the heart.

In addition, psychological support for the victim is also important; he must be reassured.

After arriving at the scene of the incident, the victim must be transported to a medical facility as quickly as possible in a supine position.

On the forums First aid for poisonous snake bites

Kalyuzhny V.V.
The book contains material on providing urgent and urgent medical care for various pathological conditions of a patient or victim (attack of illness or injury) in different situations and conditions (at home, at work, on vacation, etc.). The material is presented in a popular presentation and in the scope of providing first aid ( the entire text )
Khramova E.Yu., Plisov V.A., Ievleva A.A.
The handbook is a manual for providing first aid at home, on the street, at work for injuries, poisoning and other emergency conditions, including those arising from diseases of various organs. The emphasis is on pre-hospital medical care using available items, widely ( the entire text )
Urgent Care. A guide for sensible parents.
Komarovsky E.V.

The second part of Dr. Komarovsky’s parental guide is devoted to issues of providing emergency care. The purpose of this book is to provide moms and dads with the necessary theoretical knowledge so that the practical possibility of providing emergency care becomes a reality.
Luzhnikov E.A., Sukhodolova G.N., Ostapenko Yu.N.
How to provide first aid to someone who has been poisoned by tobacco, alcohol, drugs, household chemicals...? How to recognize a poisonous substance? Where to go for further qualified medical care and how does it turn out? These and many other questions are answered by leading toxicologists from the Research Institute of Emergency Medicine named after. N.V. Sklifosovsky.

Poisonous snake bites, first aid to the victim, basic rules when providing...

Views