Snakebite

[barolo]

Is cutting open a snakebite and sucking out the poison effective?

If one is stranded in the boonys, what is the best first aid for, let's say, a rattlesnake bite?

Please hurry, I'm feeling kinda weak.

[PunditLisa]

Having no experience in these matters, I would say that you should get ye a cell phone and dial 911. Don't worry, though, we'll send someone out to bury you under some rocks.

Seriously, I got stung by a bee a couple weeks ago and I could *feel* the venom working its way up my arm. My hand and arm swelled as it happened. Using that for comparison, it seems to me that if you tourniqueted the area above the bite, and then cut open the wound, you could theoretically "reverse" the blood flow,and with it, some of the venom. If you didn't have anti-venom or a doctor available, it would seem logical that your best best would be to minimize the amount of venom that stays in your body.

Of course, if you have no way to clean the wound after you cut it, you very well may die of a staff infection....

BTW, I have seen shows where they say if you are bit, to be sure and bring in the "specimen", meaning the snake, because if you have no idea what the little bugger is (e.g. rattlesnake v. copperhead), then it is very difficult for them to treat you. Apparently there is no anti-venom cocktail. "Honey! Quick! Catch that snake!"

[divemaster]

A rattlesnake basically has two bite patterns. (1) Biting prey which injects a lot of venom, and (2) biting in defense which injects comparatively smaller amounts of venom (or none at all).

Biologically speaking, it takes a certain amount of metabolic energy for a snake to produce and replace venom, so it is usually careful not to waste it. Incidentally, this is why it is often more dangerous to be bitten by a young rattler which may not have as much discretion over how much venom is released.

If you do get bitten by a rattlesnake, don't panic. An adult doesn't have much chance of dying unless already weakened from other factors/diseases.

Just get to the hospital or a doctor as soon as you can. Most likely they won't do much other than give you antibiotics and keep an eye on you for a while. Don't go slashing and sucking at the wound. You'll only make things worse.

The situation is different if you are bitten by a cobra or other species that have neurotoxic venom. (Rattlesnake venom is for the most part hemotoxic). The only snake endogenous to the U.S. with neurotoxic venom is the coral snake. They are reclusive, and don't have fangs like a rattlesnake. They have to grab a hold of you and chew for a while to inject venom.

[DrFidelius]

Doctor say you going to die, Kemosabe.

[DougC]

- - - As I understand it rattlesnake venom is such that if a small amount is injected, it is still fatal; it just takes much longer to work. One person I read about died because he used an Extractor but never went to the hospital afterwards because he thought he would be okay. By the time he realized different, he was too far from medical help. - Since the damage is progressive, any rattlesnake bite requires a hospital visit as fast as possible. Copperheads aren't fatal, and we don't got no water moccasins round these parts, or other dangerous types. - MC

[DougC]

- - - As I understand it rattlesnake venom is such that if a small amount is injected, it is still fatal; it just takes much longer to work. One person I read about died because he used an Extractor but never went to the hospital afterwards because he thought he would be okay. By the time he realized different, he was too far from medical help. - Since the damage is progressive, any rattlesnake bite requires a hospital visit as fast as possible. Copperheads aren't fatal, and we don't got no water moccasins round these parts, or other dangerous types. - MC

[DougC]

- - - If anyone is wondering, AOL still sucks. - MC

[BenDover]

Try this URL:
www.fda.gov/fdac/features/995_snakes.html (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/995_snakes.html)

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Its not junk - its a collection!

[Doctor Jackson]

From www.outthere.co.za/98/june98/helthjun.html (http://www.outthere.co.za/98/june98/helthjun.html)

WHAT'S IN:
Establish if the person has been bitten - no puncture wounds, no venom. (Venom in the eyes should be washed out thoroughly with water.)

Identify the snake if possible but beware of a second bite.

Keep the patient calm and lie them down.

Remove constricting items such as jewellery or tight clothes.

If possible, wash the wound with soap and water.

Wind a pressure bandage around the entire limb, just tight enough to be able to slip two fingers inside, splint it and raise it to just below heart level.

Be prepared to resuscitate if breathing and heartbeat stop.

Get patient to medical help as quickly as possible.

Anti-venom can be deadlier than the bite itself. Only trained people should use it and they must be prepared to handle possible anaphylactic shock (an exaggerated allergic reaction). Anti-venom should only be administered if the snake has been positively identified and the patient is isolated with little possibility of getting to a hospital. Note: Anti-venom does not keep well, especially in the heat.


WHAT'S OUT:
Panic

Razor blades and potassium permanganate

Tourniquets

Suction by mouth

Intake of alcohol


WHAT'S CONTROVERSIAL:
Ice packs

Electroshock

Suction devices
The possible advantages of the above techniques have to be weighed up against possible tissue damage and complications.

If in doubt, leave out!

There you go.

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The overwhelming majority of people have more than the average (mean) number of legs. -- E. Grebenik

[lvick]

Well, we just did this one in my ER class today and I'll have to contradict MC, more venom more risk of injury same time frame. About 20 % of bites are "dry," no envenomation. A suction device is fine, but no hacking away with a knife, you'll most likely make it worse. Usually, the venom is subcutaneous and the best field first aid is wrapping the limb lightly, NOT enough to occlude the arteries or the veins, just enough to trap the venom between the skin and the muscle. Actually bee stings result in lots more deaths than snakebite, plus quite a few more boys are bitten than girls, and about 85 % are on the upper extremities. So I guess testosterone is more likely to kill ya than rattlesnake venom,
larry

[NanoByte]

Of course, if you have no way to clean the wound after you cut it, you very well may die of a staff infection....

You're not suposeta use a staff to cut it. Oh, you mean staph.

Ray (just bite it back)