Snake bite injects venom into the body and this venom is carried in the blood all over the body.
The snake venom has two major properties - haemotoxic and neurotoxic.
Haemotoxic venom acts on the blood and prevents clotting.
Neurotoxic venom acts on the nerves and prevents them from functioning.
Most snake venoms have both properties in different proportions.
In addition, snake venom can also destroy skin, muscles and other tissues.
First aid for snake bite involves tying a tourniquet on the bitten limb between the bite and the body.
The tourniquet should be tied over a single bone, i.e. the upper arm or the thigh, for efficiency.
It should not be too tight (it will prevent blood flow to the limb) or too loose (it won’t prevent spreading of the venom).
The tourniquet should also be relieved periodically for short duration.
The second action should be to make the individual lie down, and calm them down. Activity as well as anxiety will cause increased blood flow in the body and therefore, the venom will spread faster.
There is no point in cutting the skin near the bitten area with a blade or of sucking out blood form the bite area.
Any cutting near the bite will only make it easier for the venom to enter the blood. Sucking out blood can cause the person doing that action to be affected by the snake venom.
credit: third party image reference
The only treatment for snake bite is to get the individual to a hospital immediately.
At the hospital, based on the patient’s condition and the results of some blood tests, the decision will be taken whether the patient needs Anti Snake Venom or not.
credit: third party image reference
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