Don’t panic when you encounter a snake, prevent and treat snake bites scientifically!

Author: Zhou Feng Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University

Reviewer: Wu Liping, Chief Nurse, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University

In the sultry summer, when you pass by the shade of trees, grass, or streams, you will inevitably wonder, "There won't be any snakes!" Especially after the recent floods in many places, I believe there will be many snakes in our sight. Snakes are animals that many people are afraid of, not only because of their terrifying appearance, but also because of their terrible toxicity. If you are unfortunately bitten by a snake, if you cannot handle it scientifically, it may cause disability or even life-threatening. So how can we scientifically prevent and treat snake bites to minimize the damage? Let us learn about the scientific prevention and treatment of snake bites!

1. There are more types of snakes than you can imagine

Snakes are common reptiles, with more than 3,340 species in the world, including more than 660 venomous snakes and nearly 200 deadly venomous snakes. There are more than 200 snake species in my country, including more than 60 venomous snakes and more than 10 highly venomous ones. Common ones include cobras, bungarus, bungarus, pit vipers, and pit vipers.

2. “Judging snakes by appearance” may help us identify venomous snakes

1. Judging from the snake's shape : Many venomous snakes have triangular heads, short and thin tails, and colorful patterns on their bodies; while most non-venomous snakes have oval heads, simple colors, and long and thin tails. However, as they evolve, the outer coats of snakes are also quietly changing, and this method of judging by appearance is no longer absolutely accurate.

2. Judging from the shape of the tooth marks : There may be 1 to 4 tooth marks at the site of a venomous snake bite, usually 2, which are deeper and thicker, and have a certain distance between them; the tooth marks at the site of a non-venomous snake bite are relatively shallow and small, with more in number, closer spacing, and arranged in two rows in a serrated or arc shape.

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3. Will symptoms of poisoning definitely appear after being bitten by a snake?

Generally, there are three situations that may occur after being bitten by a snake.

1. When bitten by a non-venomous snake , the victim will experience slight pain similar to trauma, which will gradually decrease or disappear completely after a few minutes. A small number of bitten victims will experience symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, palpitations, and fatigue, which are often caused by tension and fear.

2. Being bitten by a venomous snake , but the snake did not release venom. There is a 20% to 50% chance that a snake will not release venom when biting a person, and the victim may not have obvious symptoms and signs of poisoning.

3. Bitten by a venomous snake , and the snake released venom. The symptoms of poisoning will vary depending on the type of venomous snake. According to the type of venom secreted by the venomous snake, we can divide the venomous snake bites into four categories, including neurotoxins, blood toxins, cytotoxins and mixed toxins. Bites by venomous snakes of different venom types will have different symptoms.

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4. Can you absorb the poison with your mouth after a snake bite?

The following are common misunderstandings about snake bite treatment. How many of them do you encounter?

Myth 1 : After being bitten by a snake, try to suck out the venom from the wound with your mouth. In fact, a lot of venom has already entered the local cell tissue during the bite process, and sucking out the venom with your mouth at this time may cause more serious infection.

Misconception 2 : Blindly applying Chinese herbal medicine. Local application of Chinese herbal medicine needs to be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor. Blindly applying Chinese herbal medicine to wounds will not only be useless, but may also aggravate the infection.

Misconception 3 : Trying to catch the snake. Catching the snake may cause secondary injury.

Myth 4 : After being bitten by a snake, you should wait until you have symptoms before going to the hospital for treatment. After being bitten by different venomous snakes, the time it takes for the victim to develop symptoms may vary. Some people will develop symptoms of poisoning within minutes, while others will take 1 to 6 hours to develop symptoms of poisoning. However, no matter which venomous snake bite, every second counts. The antidote for snake bites is antivenom serum. The earlier the antivenom is used, the better the effect and the better the prognosis.

5. Master scientific methods of treating snake bites to minimize the damage!

1. Stay calm: Although a snake bite can be scary, staying calm is important to properly handling the situation. Keeping your emotions in check can help you cope better.

2. Escape from the dangerous environment: Immediately move away from the place where the snake bites you to avoid secondary injury. If the snake bites you and refuses to let go, use a stick or other tool to urge it to leave. If the victim is bitten by a snake in the water, he or she should be immediately moved to the shore or boat to avoid drowning.

3. Remember the characteristics of the snake: If possible, pay attention to the characteristics of the snake that bit you. The appearance, color, size and shape of the snake are important for the doctor to determine the correct treatment method.

4. Decompress the bite area: remove all restricted items from the injured area, such as rings, bracelets, watches, tight clothes, shoes, etc., to avoid subsequent swelling that may make them unable to be removed, thereby aggravating local injuries.

5. Keep the wound still: Keeping the wound still can slow the spread of venom. If possible, elevate the injured area, but do not compress the blood vessels.

6. Seek medical help: The consequences of snake bites vary from person to person, depending on factors such as the bite site, the toxicity of the snake, the depth of the bite, and the speed of receiving treatment. Therefore, if you are bitten by a snake, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible and follow the doctor's advice.

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6. Prevention of snake bites

In fact, the best way to prevent snake bites is prevention. In areas where snakes are active, try to wear long sleeves and long pants, wear high collared clothes, and avoid exploring areas where snakes may hide. If you encounter a snake unexpectedly, don't panic, don't disturb it, and don't catch the snake with your bare hands or pick up a seemingly dead snake. Most snake bites are caused by catching or disturbing the snake.

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Snake Activities Tips

Cobras and king cobras like to move during the day (9:00-15:00), while coral snakes are active at night (18:00-22:00), and pit vipers are active both during the day and at night. Snakes are cold-blooded animals. When the temperature reaches 18℃, they will come out to forage, bathe, exercise, etc. As the saying goes, "When snakes pass through the aisle, rain is coming", so you should pay special attention to the fact that snakes often come out of their holes when it is hot and humid or when the sun clears after rain. Therefore, avoiding the time and place when snakes are active is the best way to prevent snake bites!

References

Li Qibin, Lü Chuanzhu, Liang Zijing, et al. 2018 Chinese expert consensus on snakebite treatment[J]. Snake Journal, 2018, 30(4): 561-567.