Call 911 immediately if a snake has bitten you or a dear one. If your local emergency hospital is nearby, try to get there directly with the help of a neighbor. Do not try to drive yourself, as a venomous snake bite can cause dizziness.
Move away from the snake’s striking range and try to identify it. Try to take a photo of the snake from a distance. The first question the emergency response medical staff will ask is, “can you describe the snake?”. You must remember the snake’s color, size, or prominent attributes, which will help the medical team administer appropriate medicines and treatment.
The following steps can help while you wait for medical assistance to arrive:
There will be some swelling in the bite area. Remove any jewelry, bracelets, or watches that could cut through the skin due to swelling.
Keep the bite area below the heart to ensure the spread of venom is slowed as blood flow against gravity is slower.
Try your best to remain calm till help arrives. Excessive movement will increase your heart rate and cause the venom to move faster through the body.
Do not wash the bite area with stream water. Bacteria in the water can cause complications. Instead, cover it using a clean cloth or bandage; if the bite is on the finger or forearm, tie a tight application around the wound and then another dressing at the elbow. This bandage will restrict the flow of blood.
If the bite is near the abdomen, apply constant pressure on the area.
Do not use a tourniquet; try to slit the wound or draw out the poison by sucking the wound.
Some individuals get a severe allergic reaction after being bitten by a poisonous snake.
The medical term is called anaphylactic shock and can be fatal. The symptoms of this allergic reaction are:
- Wheezing and difficulty in drawing breaths
- Vomiting, swollen tongue, swelling inside the throat.
- Difficulty in speaking and becoming pale.
Treatment of snakebite requires hospitalization. Here doctors will administer antivenom. The antivenom is administered through an injection or IV fluids. Antivenom has specific side effects, and recovery time usually depends on the type of snakebite. Usually, patients require around three weeks to nine months to recover from snake bites depending on the severity.
Wildlife animal control experts in San Antonio believe snake bites are known to cause severe injury and even death. The most common venomous snakes in or around San Antonio are the copperhead, coral snake, rattlesnake, and cottonmouth. According to statistics given by pawsomeadvice data sourced from outside online states “yearly around 7000-8000 people in the USA are bitten by venomous snakes”.
We at Accurate Pest Control advise you not to venture into unknown places or put your hands into holes or overturn rocks or foliage. These are the most common places where venous snakes take shelter to avoid the harsh sunlight. Similarly, attempts to capture or handle venomous snakes should be left to professionals. If you suspect a venomous snake in your home or garden, call our wildlife animal control experts in San Antonio immediately. We have trained professionals that will safely capture and release these reptiles in the wild.