[Medical Q&A] How to give first aid if bitten by a venomous snake?

Author: Xiong Shaofeng, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University

Reviewer: Zhou Ying, Chief Pharmacist, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University

Time is very precious for first aid of snake bites, and timely and correct emergency treatment before the arrival of medical personnel is crucial! Here we will introduce the first aid measures after being bitten by a venomous snake.

1. Stay calm: Stay calm after being bitten by a venomous snake and remember the snake's appearance. At the same time, try to reduce activity as it will accelerate the spread of venom. Keep the injured limb in a low position to reduce the absorption of venom. Of course, the most important thing is to call 120 emergency number as soon as possible.

2. Ligation: Immediately use a rope or cloth strip to ligate the wound 5 to 10 cm proximal to the heart. The tightness of the ligature is similar to that of the cuff used when drawing blood for testing in the hospital, and it must be loosened for 1 to 2 minutes every 15 to 30 minutes to avoid local necrosis due to ischemia of the extremities.

3. Extracting fangs: Most of the time, venomous snakes bite people in self-defense. When a venomous snake bites hard and is shaken off, the fangs are likely to break off in the wound. Broken fangs often contain a lot of venom. At this time, the fangs should be extracted as quickly as possible to prevent more venom from entering the body.

4. Burning: The main components of snake venom are proteins and polypeptide enzymes, which can be denatured when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, burning the wound with fire is sometimes the simplest and most effective first aid method. However, it should be noted that special attention should be paid to the operation process to avoid secondary injuries.

5. Wash with water: Place the wound under clean running water and gently rub the wound to wash away the venom on the skin surface and shallow layers that have not entered the human body; at the same time, gently squeeze the wound surface to expel the toxins and avoid toxin absorption. If there is no water, you can also use your own urine to wash the wound.

6. Incisions: You can use a knife to cut the wound in a straight line or cross shape. You don’t need to cut too deep, just enough to seep out blood, and squeeze out some of the blood.

7. Go to the hospital: After completing the above emergency treatment, wait quietly for the ambulance to arrive. On the way to the hospital, you can use your mobile phone to search for the corresponding venomous snake based on the snake's appearance and physical signs, so that you can accurately inform the doctor when you enter the hospital and use the corresponding serum for treatment.