SNAKEBITE FIRST AID TREATMENT DO’S AND DON’TS

Everyone has a fear of being bitten by a venomous snake because of poor information passed down from previous generations. In urban areas where hospitals are around the corner, you can simply drive to the nearest appropriate medical facility to receive antivenom for snakebite if necessary. In rural areas correct snakebite first aid treatment is crucial to give a snakebite victim extra time to be able to reach a medical facility to receive lifesaving antivenom for snakebite.

Availability of appropriate medical facilities, the financial impact of travelling long distances to hospitals, and cultural beliefs all play a role in many rural snakebite victims opting to seek snakebite first aid treatment from their closest traditional healer. These traditional healers are highly respected in their communities, and they do tend to a lot of snakebite victims. Their knowledge of snakebite first aid treatment is passed down from generation to generation and unfortunately many of these treatments do cause more harm than good. However, harmful snakebite first aid treatment is not only confined to rural areas. Many people pick up incorrect snakebite first aid treatment procedures while watching Hollywood movies or listening to grandma about home remedies that saved her great grandfather back in the day!

1. What are Common Harmful Snakebite First Aid Treatment Procedures?

Irrespective of culture, age, or location some snakebite first aid treatment procedures are commonly used with the belief that the venom will be taken out or neutralised and further spread of venom will be prevented saving the victim’s life and preventing the need for antivenom for snakebite. These procedures include:

• Cutting into or around a snakebite – By cutting into or around a snakebite you could cause severe bleeding if an artery or large vein is severed. You could increase the absorption rate of the venom with more blood at the site and you can cause infection if unsterilised equipment is used, or the wound is not cleaned properly. The venom will NOT “bleed out”!
• Sucking the venom out of the wound – This is often tried by a healthy volunteer or the use of various suction devices on the market. Suction devices are ineffective in removing venom. A healthy volunteer might seem like a good idea, but it must be remembered that humans carry a wide variety of potentially harmful bacteria in our mouths which can lead to infections and other harmful effects.
• Using a tourniquet to prevent the spread of venom – For most snakebites, tourniquets should not be considered as a snakebite first aid treatment measure at all! When tourniquets are used for long periods, they cause severe pain when ischaemia sets in with no fresh oxygen being delivered to the limb below the tourniquet site. Eventually, there will be a build-up of acids in the limb and gangrene will set in. Please remember to never remove a tourniquet that has been put in place prehospitally, the sudden release of venom and acids into the body could be fatal!
• Applying various ointments, chemicals, or herbs onto the snakebite – Applying any of these could lead to local skin reactions and infections. Drinking various remedies could also lead to more damage than good. The only proven antidote is an antivenom for snakebite in severe envenomation.
• Killing the snake that bit you – There is a common belief that a snake will remember you and will come back to finish the job if you didn’t die of the initial bite. Snakes are also commonly killed as they believe that the snake is needed at the hospital to receive the correct antivenom for snakebite or the correct snakebite first aid treatment at the traditional healer. Neither of these statements are true and many people are bitten while trying to kill snakes. Snakes play an important role in our ecosystem and should not be killed. If you do not know how to capture a snake safely you can enroll in a Snake Handling course, if you are too scared you can try calling your local Fire Department or finding a local snake handler to come and assist.

2. How to Apply Correct Snakebite First Aid Treatment?

Applying the correct snakebite first aid treatment could give a snakebite victim enough time to reach the hospital alive and in time to receive needed antivenom for snakebite. The list below is just a summary and we would advise that you read our Blog How To Treat Snakebite Without Medical Help for full details or download our Snakebite First Aid Treatment Poster. When someone is bitten by a snake remember the following steps:

• Get away from the area where the victim was bit.
• Call for Emergency Services 10177 / 082 911 / 084 124.
• Calm and reassure the victim.
• Remove any tight-fitting clothing and jewellery.
• For neurotoxic bites only apply an elasticated/pressure bandage.
• Immobilise the limb and get the victim to an evacuation point.
• Transport the patient to an appropriate medical facility.
• Paracetamol may be given for pain, if and where indicated.
• Transport the patient on his/her side in case vomiting occurs.
• Monitor airway and breathing and be ready to resuscitate in a worst-case scenario.

3. Where can I learn more about Snakebite First Aid Treatment?

Access Professional Development offers Snake Identification, Handling and Snakebite Treatment training courses where you will learn all about the correct snakebite first aid treatment. Our instructor is a qualified Emergency Care Practitioner with over 17 years of experience in the Prehospital Emergency environment. We offer cost-effective and easy-to-use Snakebite First Aid kits to assist anyone in the event of a snakebite. We also have several blogs on snakes and snakebite on our website!