Intoxication of the human body with snake venom is a fairly common occurrence. In most cases, reptiles bite a person during outdoor recreation or during field work. In order to prevent the development of severe complications, the victim must immediately provide first aid for a snake bite.

Symptoms of poisoning

On the territory of Russia and in neighboring countries, two types of reptiles are common: the snake and the viper. The bites of the first are not dangerous to human life and in rare cases are accompanied only by the development of an allergic reaction. But viper venom can cause a significant deterioration in health. To be able to provide assistance with a snake bite, you need to know the main symptoms of intoxication with a poisonous substance of a reptile. If a person is bitten by a viper, then You can recognize it by the following features:

  • in the bitten place, 2 large punctures of the skin are clearly visible;
  • damaged skin burns slightly, intense pain is present;
  • after 10-30 minutes, the skin at the site of the bite swells and acquires a bluish-purple color.

With a moderate severity of snake venom poisoning, the affected person develops severe dizziness, nausea, a thready pulse, and blood pressure indicators also decrease. With high intoxication and increased susceptibility These symptoms are accompanied by pronounced signs:

  • prostration;
  • pale skin;
  • confused mind;
  • cold extremities;
  • pain in the lymph nodes and their enlargement;
  • formation of blood clots in the veins.

In addition, the appearance of fever, intense thirst, rapid and difficult breathing is not ruled out. The person may lose consciousness.

The severity of symptoms after a bite of a poisonous reptile depends on the age of the victim, the species of the snake, its size and condition of the teeth, the amount of poison injected, as well as the location of the injury, the behavior of the person after receiving it and the state of health of the bitten.

If you do not quickly provide medical assistance to the victim, then everything can end badly. The most dangerous complications after intoxication with snake venom are soft tissue necrosis, gangrene of the affected limb, dysfunction of internal organs.

emergency action

If you do not have antihistamines with you, you should immediately call an ambulance. This is what you must do when you get bitten by a snake. The first aid that can be provided to a person before the arrival of medical workers is to consistently and accurately perform the following actions:

You must call 103 or 911 and report the bite and the location of the victim.

  1. It is required to provide the victim with peace, lay him on a horizontal surface and calm him down. Moving a person from place to place is prohibited.
  2. If the snake is attached to the body, then you should try to unhook it by any means, and, if possible, take a picture. This will help health professionals determine which species it belongs to.
  3. It is required to partially free the bitten area from clothing, collect the skin in the bitten place into a fold, squeeze, and when drops of poison appear, carefully wipe off the extruded poisonous substance.
  4. You should grasp the skin around the wound with your teeth and begin to suck out the poison from it. In this case, it is required to constantly spit out the sucked liquid. It is necessary to carry out the procedure for 20 minutes. It is worth noting that it is effective only when it is carried out in the first 4 minutes from the moment of the bite.
  5. It is necessary to treat the affected area with an antiseptic and apply a pressure bandage slightly above the bitten area. It shouldn't be too tight. Your finger should be able to slide under it.
  6. You can apply ice to the affected area. This method of cooling is used every 7 minutes, and then take a break for 5 minutes to prevent tissue frostbite.
  7. If the wound is located on the leg, you can bandage a solid object to the uninjured limb. If the hand has been bitten, the splint should be fixed by bending at the elbow.
  8. After this, it is necessary to give the victim plenty of fluids to drink, this will speed up the process of removing toxins from the body.
  9. If you have antiallergic drugs with you, it is recommended to give them to the bitten person.
  10. In case of cardiac and respiratory arrest, chest compressions and artificial respiration are required.

If a person is bitten by a non-poisonous reptile, then it will be enough just to treat the wound with some kind of antiseptic. You can identify this type of reptile by the bitten place. It will have four longitudinal rows of barely visible tooth wounds.

What not to do

It often happens that people, when bitten by a poisonous snake, begin to take actions that can only aggravate the situation, that is, lead to serious complications. To prevent this, you need to know what not to do if bitten by a snake. Prohibited activities include:

  • cauterization of the bitten part of the body;
  • applying heat to the damaged area;
  • applying a tourniquet to the affected limb;
  • cutting the bite site;
  • use of non-sterile improvised means;
  • suction of the poison, if there is caries or damage to the oral mucosa;
  • the use of alcoholic beverages;
  • icing the limbs for a long time.

Manipulation of medical workers

After the arrival of doctors, the provision of qualified assistance begins, aimed at eliminating the intoxication of the body. The first manipulations are carried out by paramedics right at the scene. For this purpose, funds from a sanitary bag are used. The victim is then taken to the nearest hospital for admission. Medical intervention involves the following actions:

  1. Introduction of anti-snake serum. It has an antitoxic effect, helping to eliminate intoxication.
  2. Mandatory introduction of solutions that compensate for the lack of fluid, reduce the manifestations of poisoning and normalize blood pressure.
  3. The introduction of preparations of glucocorticoid hormones that eliminate allergic reactions and pathological changes in blood vessels.
  4. To eliminate the action of toxic substances, drugs are used that help restore the transmission of impulses in nerves and muscles.

In addition, diuretics may be administered to remove toxins. As a rule, an adult and healthy person returns to normal within 48 hours after poisoning with snake venom, if the correct emergency assistance has been provided.

  • inspect the area and knead the plants when organizing a picnic;
  • give preference to trousers and closed shoes when outdoors;
  • in no case should you walk barefoot on the ground;
  • you should carefully look under your feet;
  • when moving through overgrown areas, it is required to use a stick to push the vegetation in front of you;
  • when meeting with a snake, you do not need to try to kill it or step on it: you should just slowly move away without turning your back on the reptile;
  • never tease a snake or stir up its nest;
  • when setting up camp for the night, an open area with low vegetation should be chosen, and rocky areas should also be avoided.

In addition, a good option would be to purchase a snake repeller. It is a device that propagates ultrasound, which is very sensitive for reptiles.

Thus, correctly and timely provided first aid for a snake bite can improve the condition of the bitten. Pre-hospital emergency actions help to avoid serious complications, and in some cases, save a person's life.

During your stay in nature, you should always remember about your safety, which concerns not only salvation from natural disasters, attacks of predatory animals, insects, but also reptiles. On the territory of Russia, there are several types of poisonous snakes, which are best avoided: these are viper, viper, yellow-bellied snake, copperhead, muzzle. In addition, there is the possibility of meeting with exotic reptiles on the territory of the Russian Federation, imported from southern countries, for example, with the efa, the Central Asian cobra. When meeting with a snake, it is necessary to be able to recognize its species, whether it is poisonous or not, in order to take all measures to prevent an attack and avoid unpleasant consequences. If, nevertheless, an attack by a reptile has occurred, you need to know how first aid is provided for a bite of a poisonous snake. If help is not provided on time, there is a risk of death.

How to distinguish a poisonous snake?

The most common types of poisonous snakes in Russia are the viper and muzzle. If luck is not on your side, you can also meet some exotic species of poisonous snakes. As a rule, poisonous snakes are not the first to attack a person, but do it in self-defense. They become especially aggressive during the mating season and molting.

Not everyone will be able to determine at a meeting whether a poisonous reptile or not. There are several signs that distinguish venomous snakes from non-venomous ones:

  • Triangular head.
  • Bright coloring or intricate pattern on a contrasting background.
  • Vertical slits of the eyelids. Non-venomous snakes usually have round eyes.
  • The presence of a heat-sensitive fossa between the nostrils and eyes, thanks to which the viper finds warm-blooded prey.
  • A rattlesnake has a "rattle" at the end of its body.
  • Most venomous snakes have one row of scales at the end of their tail, while non-venomous snakes have two.
  • If you see a snake swimming on water, you can definitely say that it is poisonous.
  • Only poisonous reptiles have fangs. If she has bitten, the danger of the snake can be determined from the trace of the bite - the wound after a non-poisonous reptile has jagged edges, and after a poisonous one - one or two punctures from fangs.

The bite of a venomous snake can be fatal if you do not take timely first aid measures.


. If you meet a snake on the way, you do not need to provoke it to attack, try to grab or kill it. If she began to hiss, rattle her tail, spit, this serves as a warning before an attack.

Snakebite


Snakebite

If there was no obvious threat from the snake, but a snake bite was noticed, or there was an attack, but you are not sure that the snake is not poisonous, you need to monitor the symptoms that may arise:

  • With the bites of poisonous snakes on the skin, you can see 1 or 2 punctures left by the fangs of the viper.
  • At the site of the bite, there is pain, burning.
  • After 10-30 minutes, swelling appears at the site of the bite.
  • The skin around the wound becomes bluish.
  • Nausea, dizziness, body temperature decreases, drowsiness appears.
  • Paleness of the skin
  • Confusion
  • severe weakness
  • Shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, kidney failure may develop.

As a rule, such symptoms occur with the bites of most poisonous snakes, including vipers. If assistance is not provided for bites, there is a risk of tissue death and the development of gangrene of the limb. The bites of the Central Asian cobra have slightly different symptoms: there is a strong, burning pain in the damaged area, but there is no change in the color of the tissues. The place of the wound swells a little, an ichor is released from it. The functions of the damaged limb are impaired, this manifests itself in the occurrence of paralysis of the ascending type.

Cobra neurotoxin has a devastating effect on the facial muscles: the eyelids and lower jaw spontaneously drop, the movement of the eyeballs is disturbed. In addition, there is a general intoxication of the body: severe weakness, anxiety, difficulty in breathing and swallowing reflexes, increased salivation, nausea, vomiting, incoherent, slurred speech. Cobra bites are very poisonous, and when the first symptoms appear, urgent emergency care is necessary for the victim, otherwise death is possible after 2 or 7 hours due to respiratory arrest.


Snakebite

Not always and not all people develop symptoms in the same way. Firstly, it depends on the age of the person: more pronounced symptoms of snake venom poisoning will be in children and the elderly, as well as in the presence of various diseases and reduced immunity. Secondly, the severity of symptoms depends on the type of snake and its size: cobra bites are considered more poisonous than vipers, and when a small and young snake bites, it does less harm than a large and adult individual. Thirdly, the place of the bite is important: the limbs of a person are often attacked, and then the symptoms do not spread as quickly and are not expressed as strongly as with bites to the neck, face, parts of the body where large blood vessels are located. Fourthly, the condition of snake teeth can cause more or less harm, depending on their infection, leading to the entry of pathogenic microorganisms into the wound.

What to do if bitten by a venomous snake


What to do if bitten by a venomous snake

To avoid irreparable consequences if an attack occurs, you need to know what to do with a bite:

  1. You can not actively and quickly move, so as not to allow the poison to spread faster throughout the body. The degree of development of symptoms depends on the rate of spread of poison in the blood.
  2. You need to try to keep the bite intact, you can not injure it even more, for example, cut or cauterize.
  3. It is necessary to ensure the free movement of the lymph flow, therefore, it is impossible to apply a tourniquet to the injured limb in order to avoid impaired blood flow, destruction and death of tissues.
  4. You can not take alcohol - it makes it difficult to remove the toxic substance from the body.
  5. You should immediately protect yourself from a repeated attack by a reptile.
  6. If the attack fell on the hand, you must immediately remove all rings and other jewelry so that they do not squeeze the limb during swelling.

First of all, the victim must be provided with complete rest and plenty of fluids to quickly remove the poison from the body. Further measures are aimed at preventing its spread throughout the body, deterioration of well-being, as well as reducing the strength of the development of symptoms before the victim is provided with qualified medical care.

First aid for snakebite


First aid for snakebite

First aid, as mentioned earlier, should be provided immediately. This is reflected in the following activities:

  • To prevent the poison from actively spreading throughout the body, it is necessary to immobilize the affected limb, as is done with a fracture. To do this, you need to fix the two nearest joints by applying a splint.
  • During first aid for a bite, it is necessary to carefully examine the clothing and skin around the wound for the presence of traces of poison. Hitting these places, you can inadvertently bring an additional portion of poison into the wound.
  • An effective technique is the suction of poison from the wound. But, it is necessary to do this only if there are no micro-wounds in the mouth. Suction must begin immediately, as soon as an attack occurs. For 15 minutes, it is necessary to spit the poison, thoroughly rinsing the mouth after it. There is also a safer method for the rescuer to suck out the poison, using a glass jar. To do this, you need to take an ordinary vial, burn oxygen out of it, and put it on the bite site for 1 minute. The vacuum effect will allow the poisonous substance to be drawn out. The effectiveness of this method depends on the depth of the bite, the degree of swelling of the wound, as well as the speed of the rescuer.
  • It is necessary to disinfect the wound with any improvised means - iodine, brilliant green, etc. Apply a clean, non-pressure bandage to the bite site, loosening it as swelling increases.
  • Give the victim plenty of fluids, except for coffee and alcohol. This will allow you to remove part of the poison left after sucking, which did not have time to dissolve in the blood.

As these events are carried out, the victim should be immediately taken to the hospital, where anti-snake serum will be introduced to him. Self-administration of this drug is contraindicated, since it is necessary to know the exact dose of the administered serum, otherwise there is a high risk of anaphylactic shock. In a medical facility, to reduce the likelihood of shock, the victim is pre-administered with a solution of Prednisolone or Hydrocortisone along with intravenous administration of sodium chloride solution, 5% glucose solution and albumin.

Traditional medicine


St. John's wort tea for prevention after a snake bite

If an accident with an attack by poisonous snakes occurred far from civilization, first aid may involve the use of traditional medicine:

  • Moisten a cotton swab with ammonia solution, apply to the wound, changing three times a day.
  • Steam fresh or dried veronica grass (the so-called snake grass), apply to the wound.
  • Use crushed garlic with salt.
  • For anesthesia, you can use a slurry from a series of tripartite, applying it to the wound.
  • As a lotion, you can also use crushed nettle leaves mixed with honey.

What to do with a snake bite: video

Contrary to popular beliefs about the aggressiveness of snakes, herpetologists argue that most reptiles are harmless creatures. Only a tenth of all species are represented by poisonous reptiles. The snake attacks due to guilt or careless behavior of a person. If the attack could not be avoided, then first aid is extremely important for the bite of a poisonous snake.

Causes of bites

The reptile produces and uses poison in order to kill prey, for self-defense. The reptile avoids meeting with a person, retreats as soon as possible. The snake does not see well, but vibrational sensitivity allows you to capture any movement. The reptile is the first to react upon meeting - a person may not see the animal because of the camouflage outfit.

The cause of bites is the surprise factor when the reptile reacts to a source of danger. The reptile's behavior is especially aggressive when disturbed during the breeding season.

Before the attack, the snake warns large animals, people about the threat of attack. The characteristic hissing, tapping of the tail, the spiraling position of the body indicate its readiness to defend itself.

Correct behavior, reading reptile signals allows you to avoid contact with a poisonous predator. Drunk people, children, tourists unprepared for dangerous encounters, and agricultural workers become victims of attacks.

Types of poisonous snakes

The most common snake bites in practice are from the following families:


  • vipers;
  • snake;
  • aspids.

Viper snakes are found in forest, swampy places in our country. First aid for a viper snake bite is very important, although its bite is not always fatal. The victim experiences severe pain after the lesion, severe complications are possible in the absence of proper treatment. The common viper does not have enough venom to be fatal. But getting a bite into a large vessel leads to a severe pathological condition.

In the genus of vipers, the sand efa, viper, living in the southern regions, is a mortal danger. Every fifth bite of Central Asian reptiles leads to death.


Already-shaped not all are poisonous. Of particular danger comes from the boomslang tree reptile and the wine snake. African reptiles are distinguished by a series of bites when attacked. The bite of a non-venomous snake of a similar family also causes a lot of pain and worries - wounds are at risk of infection and inflammation.

Aspid representatives are common in China, India, Uzbekistan. The first actions when bitten by a cobra snake should be prompt - the poison causes paralysis and paresis.

There are not so many poisonous snakes in our latitudes as in Africa, America, and Central Asian countries. The greatest danger is the meeting with vipers, after the bite of which, the victim needs prompt assistance.

Characterization of toxins

The effect of the venom of different snakes differs depending on the elements included in the toxic substance. Transparent liquid of a viscous consistency of yellowish-green color, bitter in taste, includes:


  • amino acids;
  • proteins;
  • trace elements.

Enzymes, neurotoxins in the toxic substance affect the central nervous system, heart, internal organs, destroy the internal blood supply of the body. Assistance with a snake bite is carried out taking into account the damaging factor.

The action of the components is directed in two directions:

  • neurotoxic;
  • hematovasotoxic.

In the first case, the mechanism of neuromuscular signaling is rapidly disrupted, which leads to paralysis - this is how the effect of the venom of many aspid snakes is manifested.

In the second case, hematovasotoxic substances destroy red blood cells, disrupt the process of blood clotting - internal bleeding, swelling of tissues and organs occur. The poisons of vipers, muzzle, vipers have an internal destruction of the body.

Rattlesnakes produce a venom that combines effects in two directions at once. First aid for a snake bite is carried out taking into account the specificity of the reptile. If the victim did not see the attacking reptile, then the nature of the symptoms of intoxication reflects the characteristics of the poisonous substance.

Neurotoxic damage causes numbness at the site of the bite, impaired coordination of movements, difficulty swallowing, breathing. A direct hit of the poison in the blood leads to complete paralysis after 10-20 minutes.

The first signs of a snake bite with hematovasotoxic damage are manifested in rapidly increasing edema, necrosis of tissues around the punctures, and extensive internal hemorrhage. Unbearable pain accompanies the manifestation of external symptoms. The threat to life is acute renal failure, gastrointestinal bleeding.

The spread of poison in the circulatory, muscular system provokes local reactions, general changes in the body.

Symptoms

The first signs of a snake bite are visually noticeable on the skin:

  • small wounds in the form of triangles, slightly bleeding;
  • redness of the skin around the puncture sites.

Pain, burning in the first minutes are signals that should be taken seriously, even if a swift attack in the dark was not noticed. Active movements contribute to the spread of toxins, which is reflected in the spread of subcutaneous hemorrhages, an increase in edema.

Signs of a snake bite affect a change in overall well-being:

  • changes in heart rate, increased heart rate;
  • lowering blood pressure;
  • pain in the chest area;
  • muscle weakness;
  • dizziness;
  • clouding of consciousness;
  • deterioration in visual acuity;
  • respiratory failure;
  • indigestion:
  • change in body temperature.

The manifestation of one or more signs is an important factor that it was a snake bite that occurred. Symptoms in terms of intensity depend on a number of indicators:

  • varieties of snake - young individuals accumulate less poison than mature ones. A family of asps, rattlesnakes represent the highest danger to humans;
  • localization of the lesion - wounds on the neck, face, in places of large vessels are the most severe;
  • the age of the victim - children, the elderly, people with heart disease, prone to allergies are at greater risk;
  • measures taken - the correct actions and first aid for a snakebite significantly affect the outcome in the treatment of the victim.

The first hours after the fact of the defeat are of decisive importance. Emergency care for a snake bite should be timely, otherwise the triggered mechanism of destruction of the body will lead to death.

First aid

The absence of panic, the first actions in case of a snake bite play a decisive role in the development of the situation. It is especially important to act quickly when a child is in danger. A small body weight is one of the reasons for the rapid intoxication of the body. Understanding what to do when bitten by a venomous snake often saves the life of a loved one.

Urgent Action

Calling doctors, transferring information about the localization of punctures, varieties of reptiles is the first measure of help. Next, you need to follow the basic rules for a snake bite:

A successful procedure can reduce the amount of toxic substance up to 50%.

  1. Release the victim from tight clothing, belts that tighten the body, jewelry in the form of chains, bracelets, loosen fasteners - excess pressure will not contribute to the development of swelling.
  2. Provide plenty of fluids - warm tea, water. A large volume of fluid in the body weakens the process of intoxication.
  3. Ensure the intake of available antihistamines (loratadine, suprastin, etc.), make an injection of the drug to enhance effectiveness.
  4. When bitten by a poisonous snake, it is necessary to apply cold to the affected area for 7-10 minutes. Use a bottle of water, ice wrapped in a thick cloth. Cold slows down the spread of toxins, reduces inflammation, and reduces pain.
  5. Above the puncture zone, apply a tight, but not squeezing bandage to reduce the lymphatic outflow. Why can't you put a tourniquet on a snakebite? The concentration of poison leads to tissue necrosis, the removal sharply worsens the condition of the victim due to the spread of toxins. A tight bandage creates a restriction for the spread of toxins through the lymphatic channels. When swelling increases, it must be weakened.
  6. First aid rules for snake bites include treatment of the wound with antiseptic preparations that do not contain alcohol (furatsilin, chlorhexidine), which accelerates the spread of toxins through the circulatory system. The imposition of a sterile napkin, a loose bandage will protect the wounds from infection.

First aid for a snake bite involves constant monitoring of the condition of the victim until the arrival of doctors. After taking urgent measures, it is important to monitor and maintain the functioning of the vital systems of the body.

For transportation, the limb should be fixed. In 70% of cases, reptiles attack the hands and feet of a person. Improvised means in the form of boards, cardboard, plywood are used to construct a tire.


When bitten by a poisonous snake, it is necessary to save the reptile if it was possible to capture it. You should not take special risks in catching a reptile - this will aggravate the situation, increase the aggression of the reptile. There are cases when small snakes that have stuck their teeth into tissues are removed from the body by opening their mouths. Keeping the stunned animal in a jar, a tight bag, will later determine the nature of the lesion with great accuracy.

The correct sequence of actions for a snake bite significantly increases the chances of a favorable development of treatment.

Common Mistakes

Due to ignorance, people often perform actions that increase intoxication, worsen the general condition of the victim's body. What should not be done when bitten by a venomous snake?

  • cut wounds to extract poison - increases the risk of infection;
  • cauterize punctures - the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe wound increases;
  • take alcohol - the process of absorption of the poison is enhanced;
  • apply ice directly to wounds, to the entire limb - vasospasm is inevitable.

When bitten by a snake, physical activity cannot be exercised - intoxication of the body increases.

Health care

Depending on many aspects, the development of pathology due to intoxication with snake venom proceeds slowly or rapidly, sometimes abruptly.

First aid for venomous snake bites is provided at the scene if necessary, more often in a hospital setting. The main task is to ensure the work of all vital organs, cleanse the body of toxins.

Experienced professionals working in the habitat of dangerous reptiles have the skills to administer antivenom in the event of an attack. So, for example, you can save the victim from the consequences of a bite of the viper family with the help of the Antigyurza drug. An injection under the shoulder blade prevents the development of anaphylactic shock, weakens the effect of toxic substances. The antidote is administered in stages: first, 0.1 ml of the drug, after 15 minutes an additional dose of 0.25 ml, after another 15 minutes - the remainder of the drug. Gradual introduction is a prerequisite for use, since an increased reaction to an antidote can be more dangerous in the consequences of the toxin itself. The effectiveness of the remedy is manifested throughout the day.

Medical care for snake bites, provided promptly, significantly affects the positive dynamics of the victim's condition. But an appeal to doctors to assess the degree of pathological processes is necessary in any case.

In the hospital, taking into account previous activities, an antidote serum is administered. If the species of the snake is unknown, then a polyvalent preparation is used.

Comprehensive treatment includes:

  • conducting infusion therapy aimed at correcting the fluid balance in the body;
  • prevention of renal failure;
  • cardiac support with medicines and resuscitation if necessary;
  • antiallergic measures to prevent complications.

The period of treatment, a positive prognosis depends on many factors. A complete cure is possible without complications, but the development of pathology often leads to a long recovery, to the patient's disability.

Prevention

Prevention has long been called the best treatment. First aid for snake bites is not required if you exercise forethought, caution, and knowledge of the behavior of reptiles.

About the statistics of cases of attacks by a reptile, the victim himself, who showed frivolity, is most often guilty.

Visiting areas where dangerous snakes live involves appropriate measures:

  • wearing closed clothes, high shoes;
  • attentive attitude to rocky areas, burrows, lowlands where reptiles can hide;
  • careful behavior when carrying out field work, studying the area;
  • carrying a polyvalent serum, an antidote for the venoms of many snakes.


If movement is noticed in the grass, bushes, there is no need to show excessive curiosity, run after it in order to catch the reptile. It is important to stop the child from such behavior. The snake will not cause harm, retreats if no one starts to escalate the situation of the meeting.

Following the recommendations of experienced travelers will protect your stay in nature from accidental encounters with poisonous reptiles. A preliminary study of the instructions for using an antitoxic agent will help out in a critical situation if you need help from people around you. First aid for snakebite: video

Do not attempt to catch or play with snakes unless absolutely necessary, even if they are small and lethargic in appearance. Poisonous and newly hatched from the egg cubs of snakes.
Care should be taken when handling dead snakes, in some of them the poison retains its properties for a long time. An accidental sting with a poisonous tooth can cause poisoning.

Snakes never attack without warning! Cobra Threat Pose - front third of the body raised vertically, hood swollen, swaying from side to side, hissing resembling a sneeze, throwing towards the enemy. A cobra is able to make a throw equal to a third of the length of its body. An irritated muzzle finely shakes the tip of its tail. In a threat position, the efa curls up into two tight half-rings, in the middle of which it slightly raises its head. Vipers and gyurza, threatening to throw, curl up
plate, zigzag arch the front of the body, hiss strongly. The hiss of a gyurza resembles the sound of air escaping from a hole in a hand pump.

If you suddenly notice a snake crawling, freeze, give it the opportunity to leave. If the snake is in a menacing posture, back away slowly. Avoid sudden movements that frighten the snake! You can not, defending yourself, put your hands forward, turn your back to the snake. If you have a stick, hold it in front of you towards the snake. Do not run away from the snake you meet - you can step on another unnoticed. Remain calm in decisions, actions, gestures. Remember, a snake that you do not see is dangerous, a snake that is found is not a threat.

Everything, including poisonous snakes that live in the territory of the former Soviet Union, is edible. And if you are forced to hunt, try to press the head of the snake to the ground with a stick, then cut it off or crush it with a blow of a stone. Do not even touch the severed head - within a few minutes it is capable of action!

First aid for a snake bite. Incorrect actions in providing assistance often cause more damage to health than the snake bite itself, significantly complicate diagnosis and further treatment.

When bitten by a cobra, a slight burning sensation is felt in the first minute, numbness, redness, and pain appear. Numbness, pain quickly spread to the entire affected limb, sometimes to the trunk. Coordination of movements is disturbed (staggering gait, it is difficult to stand on your feet). There is a disorder of speech and swallowing. Strong salivation, irresistible drowsiness are possible. Breathing is oppressed, becomes more and more rare, superficial. Body temperature rises to 38-39 °. The victim without help can die in 2-7 hours.

The bite of vipers, gyurza, muzzle causes severe prolonged pain. Large swelling at the site of the bite. Then it spreads rapidly. (For example, if bitten on the finger, swelling may reach the shoulder.) The skin in the area of ​​​​the bite becomes reddish-bluish. After 20-40 minutes, shock phenomena occur: pallor of the skin, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weak and frequent pulse, and a decrease in pressure. Periodic loss of consciousness is possible. Sometimes agitation and convulsions. Death can occur in 30 minutes, but sometimes in a day or more.

  • Immediately after the bite, provide the victim with complete rest in a horizontal position. Suck out the poison! If necessary, move the victim to a comfortable, weather-protected place. Independent movement of the victim is unacceptable!
  • In the first seconds after the bite, pressing with your fingers, open the wound and begin to vigorously suck out the poison with your mouth. Spit out bloody liquid periodically. If there is little saliva or there is a wound on the lips, in the mouth, you should take a little water into your mouth (water dilutes the poison) and suck the poison alternately for 15 minutes continuously. This allows you to remove from the body of the victim from 20 to 50 percent of the poison. For a person providing assistance, suctioning the poison is completely harmless, even if he has wounds or abrasions in his mouth. If the victim is alone, he must suck the poison out on his own.
  • The wound must be disinfected, a sterile bandage should be applied, which, as edema develops, is periodically loosened so that it does not cut into soft tissues.
  • To slow the spread of poison in the body, limit the victim's mobility. Immobilize affected limbs. When bitten in the leg, bandage it to a healthy one and, putting something under your knees, slightly raise them. If you bite into the hand, fix it in a bent position.
  • Let the victim drink more tea, broth, water (it is better to refuse coffee as an aphrodisiac). Increased water consumption contributes to the removal of poison from the body.
  • Try to immediately deliver the victim, transport him on a stretcher to the nearest medical facility. It is desirable to find the snake and deliver it to the doctor for identification. If necessary, carry out prolonged artificial respiration and cardiac massage.
  • If there is serum, then inject it intramuscularly (preferably in the back area) no later than 30 minutes after the bite. When bitten by a viper, muzzle, the introduction of serum is impractical.
  • Cut the bite site crosswise or cut out the affected area. Cuts with random objects (knives, glass fragments) lead to infections, damage to veins, tendons.
  • Cauterize the wound with hot objects on fire, coals from a fire, gunpowder. The poisonous teeth of snakes reach a centimeter in length, the poison is injected deep into the muscle tissue.
  • It is dangerous and useless to cauterize the bite site with caustic potassium, nitric, sulfuric and carbolic acids.
  • Do not apply a tourniquet above the bite site. The imposition of a tourniquet on the affected limb worsens the condition of the victim, provokes gangrenous phenomena (especially with bites of vipers, vipers), increases the possibility of death.
  • Remember that alcohol is not an antidote, but, on the contrary, makes it difficult to remove the poison from the body, enhances its effect.
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First aid for snake bite

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Snake venom poisoning is studied in such a branch of medicine as clinical toxicology, and not only doctors, but also those who work in the agricultural industry, often go outdoors or travel should have information about the rules for conducting emergency measures and methods for preventing their bites.

Every year, about 2 million people suffer from snake bites, of which about 110-120 thousand people die. In Europe, these are isolated cases, in the USA - about 15 people, and in countries such as India, Brazil and Burma - the highest rate in the world.

On the territory of Russia, the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine, there are about 11 species of poisonous snakes that are dangerous to humans.

The most common families are: already-shaped, aspid, viper and pit-headed.

Many snakes are not at all dangerous to people, they are not aggressive and attack only with a deliberately aggressive attitude of a person. Their venom is secreted from the tooth, which is located deep in the mouth and affects only the victim in the mouth of the reptile.

The situation is different with vipers and other types of poisonous snakes: they are always aggressive towards any human intrusion into their habitat.

To provoke an attack on their part, the mere presence of a person or animal is enough.

That is why in their habitats one should behave extremely cautiously and immediately bypass the seen reptile. There are also cases when the moment of a snake bite goes unnoticed until the first signs of poisoning appear or signs of skin bite are detected.

The aspid family is represented on the territory of Russia by only one species - the Central Asian cobra, the viper family - by various types of vipers, efs and gyurza, and the pit-head family - by the common and eastern muzzle.

The greatest probability of meeting with gyurza, muzzle, sand efa and some varieties of vipers (Caucasian, Radde, nosed) is observed in the Transcaucasus and Central Asia, and a meeting with the Central Asian cobra can occur in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and in the south of Uzbekistan.

In addition to land poisonous snakes, marine varieties of these reptiles dangerous to humans are also found. You can meet them in the coastal waters of tropical seas.

Snake venom is a complex substance that consists of a set of proteins and biologically active components that have an indirect or direct toxic effect on human systems and organs.

Usually a snake attacks a person or animal only in self-defense, and about 70% of bites occur on the legs. The aggressiveness of snakes increases during the mating season or molting, but the fact of a snake bite does not always cause poisoning of the body. For example, when bitten by a viper, a snake does not emit poison in 25% of cases, and coral snakes and cobras - in about 50%.

The most severe poisoning with snake venom occurs with alcohol intoxication, high air temperature, in children, women, people with concomitant diseases, people with low body weight and with the introduction of poison into the neck, head or large blood vessel.

And the most dangerous are the bites of large snakes.

The most dangerous for humans is the bite of the black mamba, which lives in the central, eastern and southern parts of the African continent. This snake during the attack is capable of speeds up to 20 km per hour and death after its bite is observed in 95-100% of cases.

In this article, we will introduce you to the symptoms of poisoning and bites from some poisonous snakes, how to prevent them, and how to provide first aid and treatment.

Symptoms of snake bites and snake venom poisoning

The severity and nature of the symptoms of a snakebite can be characterized by some common features, since snake venoms also contain the same components that have similar effects on the human body.

These toxins include the following:

  • neurotoxin - affects and causes disorders in the functioning of the nervous system;
  • cholinesterase - an enzyme that disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses from nerves to muscles;
  • cardiotoxin - affects and causes disorders in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
  • hemolysin - provokes the destruction of blood cells and red blood cells.

Symptoms that appear in the victim after a snake bite can be divided into:

  1. common - appear when bitten by any poisonous snake and are expressed with varying degrees of intensity;
  2. specific - characteristic of poisoning with a certain type of snake venom.

General symptoms

Common symptoms of bites and poisoning by snake venom include:

local signs. On the skin, one or two wounds that have a triangular shape are determined. They measure about 2-3 mm and are located on the same level. In the bite area, such signs of inflammation are determined: redness, swelling, and sensations of burning and pain. Bloody discharge is released from the wounds, and hemorrhages or bluish spots may appear on the skin surrounding the bite site.

General reactions. The victim's temperature rises (to high numbers), muscle pains, nausea, vomiting and loose stools with blood impurities appear. Gradually, renal and hepatic insufficiency increases.

neurological disorders. The victim has a feeling of muscle weakness, clouding of consciousness, numbness (especially in the bite area), headaches, decreased visual acuity, double vision, inability to focus the gaze, facial muscle distortion, drooping of the eyelids and a violation of the act of swallowing.

Cardiovascular disorders. The victim's pulse quickens, blood pressure decreases or rises (sometimes to critical numbers), breathing quickens and pains appear in the region of the heart and in the chest.

The severity of symptoms of snake venom poisoning depends on many factors:

The behavior of the victim after the bite. Running, moving fast, walking, or panicking will speed up the spread of the poison throughout the body.

Type of snake, its size and age. The most dangerous are the bites of rattlesnakes, asp and cobras, the bites of snakes of the viper family are less dangerous, but they can also cause serious deviations and death (in 1% of cases). Poisoning by the venom of young or small snakes is less dangerous. In addition, the degree of fright of the snake before the attack can also affect the toxicity of the poison: the more frightened and aggressive the snake is, the more toxic its poison becomes.

Bite localization. More quickly, the symptoms of poisoning develop when a bite is applied to the head, neck, torso and large blood vessels. If the lower extremities are affected, symptoms develop more slowly.

The age and general health of the victim. More susceptible to snake venom toxins are children, the elderly, women, and those suffering from serious illnesses or who are intoxicated. In such cases, death can occur at lightning speed.

The presence of pathogenic bacteria on the snake's teeth. Infection of the wound can cause the development of severe purulent complications, necrotic processes and sepsis.

High air temperature. The hot climate promotes faster blood flow through the vessels and the spread of poison.

All these factors contribute to the increase and progression of the general symptoms of snake venom poisoning. Depending on their combination and severity, the signs of poisoning can be aggravated with layering on top of each other or immediately cause the development of a shock reaction and the rapid onset of death of the victim.

Viper bite symptoms

The composition of viper venom includes enzymes toxic to the human body such as:

  • phospholipase;
  • hyaluronidase.

Viper venom destroys the walls of capillaries and blood vessels, red blood cells, forms blood clots and causes circulatory disorders. Under its influence, the water-mineral balance, the activity of the cardiovascular system and the liver are disturbed.

A victim of a viper bite has the following symptoms:

  • 1 or 2 wounds from biting the skin with teeth, relatively mild pain, swelling that appears after 10-30 minutes, redness, burning, areas of hemorrhage, purple-bluish spots and areas of skin necrosis at the site of the bite;
  • dizziness and headache;
  • tachycardia;
  • decrease in body temperature and fever as the symptoms of poisoning increase;
  • pallor;
  • weakness;
  • drowsiness;
  • confusion or fainting;
  • nausea;
  • sweating;
  • dyspnea;
  • development of renal failure.

Symptoms of the bite of the Central Asian cobra and other snakes of the aspid family

The composition of the poison of the Central Asian cobra includes:

  • neurotoxin;
  • cardiotoxin;
  • hyaluronidase;
  • phospholipase;
  • cholinesterase.

A victim of a bite from a Central Asian cobra and other snakes from the aspid family has the following symptoms:

  • intense burning pain in the area of ​​the bite of the skin (decreases within a few hours);
  • at the site of the bite, the skin color does not change, the skin becomes swollen, bloody fluid is released from the wounds;
  • when a limb is damaged, its paralysis develops, which spreads upward, capturing the muscles of the trunk and face;
  • violation of the movement of the eyeballs;
  • swallowing disorder;
  • hiccups
  • difficulty breathing;
  • prolapse of the eyelids and lower jaw;
  • salivation;
  • speech disorder;
  • involuntary urination and defecation;
  • rapid development of signs of intoxication: severe weakness, nausea, vomiting;
  • expressed anxiety;
  • disturbance of consciousness;
  • weakening of the heart.

Death can occur 2-7 hours after the bite.

Rattlesnake and pit viper bite symptoms

The venom of pit vipers and rattlesnakes contains:

  • hemocoagulants, hemorrhagins and hemolysins - cause the destruction of red blood cells, contribute to vascular thrombosis and increase their permeability, subsequently their action leads to a decrease in blood clotting and the development of DIC-like syndrome;
  • cytotoxins - lead to damage to the kidneys, heart, liver and cause tissue necrosis in the bite area.

After being bitten by pit vipers (aquatic muzzle, copperhead muzzle) and rattlesnakes, teeth marks and scratches appear on the skin.

The victim develops severe pain and severe burning at the site of the bite.

The temperature of the skin at the bite site rises.

Edema at the site of the bite appears after 30-60 minutes and progresses rapidly, spreading to the surrounding tissues, and after 6-8 hours, bullae (blisters) with serous and bloody contents and multiple bruises appear on the skin, which merge and can form necrotic wounds.

In most cases, tissue necrosis develops with rattlesnake bites. And the peak of manifestation of the action of the poison is observed during the first 2-4 days.

The victim develops intoxication and hectic fever:

  • the temperature rises to high numbers;
  • chills appear;
  • sweating;
  • intoxication develops;
  • nausea and vomiting appear;
  • there is a risk of spontaneous bleeding from the stomach or intestines;
  • possible decrease in blood pressure and the development of shock;
  • the appearance of a rubbery, metallic or minty taste in the mouth (with rattlesnake bites).

When poisoned by rattlesnake venoms, the victims develop changes in blood clotting: an increase in INR, a decrease in the number of platelets, hypofibrinemia.

Blood coagulation disorders can lead to the development of DIC-like syndrome, manifested by hemorrhages on the skin, spontaneous bleeding, blood in the stool and urine.

In case of poisoning by the venoms of the rhombic rattlesnake and the Mojave rattlesnake, serious neurological disorders and signs of difficulty in breathing may occur.

When poisoned by the poisons of most North American snakes, the victims show signs of impaired neuromuscular conduction:

  • muscle weakness;
  • muscle twitching;
  • paresthesia.

In some cases, the victims have a change in mental status.

Symptoms of bites of coral snakes

Coral snakes are common in South and North America. The bites of these snakes pose a real threat to life, and every year about 7-8 people die from poisoning with their poison.

Without timely assistance, a person can die 20-24 hours after the bite from respiratory arrest and heart disorders provoked by the action of neurotoxins and hemolysin.

With the bites of these snakes, in most cases, pain and swelling of the skin is minimal, transient or completely absent, and such symptoms are often mistaken for a dry bite. This fact can be misleading for both the victim and the doctors.

A few hours later, the victim develops weakness of the bitten limb, and after 12 hours, neuromuscular disorders begin to appear. These include the following symptoms:

  • muscle weakness;
  • an increase in axillary lymph nodes;
  • cold sweat;
  • headache;
  • fear of light;
  • pain and itching in the ears;
  • sensations of roaring and crackling in the ears against the background of sudden nocturnal deafness;
  • clicking in the ears during swallowing;
  • black earwax;
  • coldness of the lower extremities;
  • rash on the feet;
    cold sensations in the bones;
  • stitching pains under the nails;
  • drowsiness;
  • changes in consciousness;
  • decreased visual acuity;
  • fear of rain;
  • euphoria or depression and fear;
  • fear of loneliness;
  • muscle weakness;
  • paralysis of cranial nerves: ptosis, swallowing disorders, salivation, drooping of the upper eyelids, blurred vision, double vision, impaired speech, swallowing and breathing;
  • stomach ache;
  • pain when swallowing and a feeling of constriction in the throat;
  • signs of angina;
  • bad breath;
  • nasal congestion;
  • nosebleeds with sensations of pain in the nasal cavity;
  • purulent and fetid discharge from the nose and the formation of yellow-green crusts (ozena) in the nasal cavity;
  • diarrhea from cold water or debilitating diarrhea in debilitated patients;
  • the appearance of ulcers and erosions in the intestines and stomach
  • rash on the lips;
  • fainting when trying to tilt the body forward.

Such manifestations of coral snake poisoning continue for 3-6 days. In the absence of timely medical care and artificial ventilation of the lungs, the victim may die from respiratory failure and respiratory arrest.

What not to do with snake bites?

Apply a tourniquet. The imposition of a tourniquet contributes to a sharp violation of blood circulation in the limb and contributes to a more severe tissue damage.

Burn the bite.

Take alcohol.

Make incisions in places of swelling or bite for the outflow of "poisoned blood".

Treat the bite site with adrenaline or local anesthetics.

Apply heat.

Apply ice to the affected leg or arm for a long time. Cold exposure to the bite area should be local.

First aid tactics for a snake bite

The timeliness of first aid for a snake bite largely determines the further prognosis.

First aid for a snake bite is as follows:

Lay the victim in a horizontal position and calm. When fixing the snake to the skin, it is immediately removed. If possible, the snake is identified or killed for further examination by a specialist.

Call an ambulance (if possible).

If it is impossible to identify the snake, the victim is observed. The absence of pain, burning and swelling in the area of ​​​​the bite may indicate that the snake is not poisonous.

Remove clothing and jewelry from the affected area, which can contribute to circulatory disorders and aggravate swelling.

If it is known for sure that the bitten snake is poisonous, then first aid measures begin to be carried out immediately.

Urgent care

Immobilize the affected limb (immobilize) with an impromptu bandage or splint.

The suction of the poison should be carried out in the first 5-10 minutes after the bite, because at a later date it is no longer so effective.

The timely implementation of this emergency measure helps to remove about 50% of the poison from the body.

If possible, it is better to use suction or a rubber bulb for this procedure, and in their absence, suction is performed by mouth. To perform suction, grab the skin at the puncture site into a fold and slightly stretch it (so the puncture sites from the teeth will open better). Grasp the surrounding skin areas with your teeth and suck out the poison while pressing down on the skin. Saliva with poison should be spit out immediately. The same actions should be performed for 20 minutes.

Disinfect the wound with hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, a weak solution of potassium permanganate or brilliant green. To treat the wound, it is better not to use alcohol or alcohol solutions.

Apply a loose bandage of a clean cloth or bandage to the wound and a moderately compressive bandage on the entire limb (the finger should freely penetrate the surface of the bandage and not cause discomfort to the victim).

Apply ice to the bite site. When using ice, it should be removed every 5-7 minutes (to prevent tissue frostbite).

To reduce the symptoms of intoxication, the victim should drink as much as possible (up to 3-5 liters of drinking or alkaline mineral water per day), take vitamin K and C. Alkalinization of water can be done by preparing a soda solution: 1-2 teaspoons of soda per 1 liter water.

If possible, a dropper with 5% glucose solution (400 ml) should be placed. To lower blood pressure, you can use an intravenous infusion of 400 ml of Reopoliglyukin.

Give the patient to take antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, Loratadine, Tavegil, Levocetirizine) or inject intramuscularly (1 ml of 1% solution of Diphenhydramine, Pipolfen or Suprastin).

Give the patient to take glucocorticoid drugs (Dexamethasone - 2-4 mg / day, Prednisolone - 5 mg / day) or administer them intramuscularly (Prednisolone - 30-60 mg, Dexamethasone - 80 mg).

After being bitten by a cobra, the victim may have difficulty breathing. To stabilize it, a cotton swab moistened with ammonia should be brought to the patient's nose.

With signs of respiratory and heart failure, the patient is administered Cordiamin, Ephedrine and Caffeine.

When breathing and cardiac activity stop, artificial respiration and chest compressions are performed.

Antidotes

In case of poisoning with snake venom, the introduction of antidotes - anti-snake sera is indicated. Their introduction is most effective in the first hours or days after the bite. Subsequently, if necessary, the introduction of sera can be repeated.

Treatment for poisoning with snake venoms

Treatment of poisoning with snake venom should be comprehensive and include symptomatic, detoxification and specific therapy. If necessary, resuscitation and artificial ventilation of the lungs are carried out.

The tactics of treatment is determined by the complexity of the clinical case and consists in the following activities:

To reduce the allergic reaction, the patient is shown taking desensitizing drugs and corticosteroid hormones. The duration of their administration and dosage depend on the severity of the patient's condition.

Detoxification therapy consists in the infusion of sodium chloride solutions, Refortan, glucose, Ringer, fresh frozen plasma and forced diuresis with diuretics (Trifas, Furosemide).

To eliminate the neurotoxic effects of the poison, anticholinesterase agents are used - Prozerin, Galantamine.

To prevent secondary infection and purulent complications, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used (Ceftim, Levofloxacin, Cefataxime, etc.).

For the prevention of hepatic and renal insufficiency, the patient is prescribed the introduction of Eufillin and the use of hepatoprotectors (Gepadif, Essentiale, Berlition, etc.).

In severe poisoning (especially children), hemodialysis and hemosorption are indicated.

During treatment, monitoring of basic vital parameters and indicators of the general blood test, its biochemical parameters and general urinalysis is always carried out.

Prevention of snake bites

There is no specific way to prevent venomous snake bites.

To prevent snake bites, the following rules of conduct should be observed:

When you see a snake, you should not perform actions that provoke a snake to attack: shout, tease, or make sudden movements.

When entering a potential risk area, be sure to wear boots or high boots and thick clothing.

If you are walking on tall grass, then use a stick with which you can make sure that there is no snake.

When walking in the habitats of snakes, look under your feet.

When staying in places that are far from cities and medical institutions, carry drugs with antidotes.

For long stays in nature in tents or sleeping bags, carefully choose a suitable place to sleep. It should be on a hill with low vegetation, away from mountains and rocks.

Be sure to check tents and sleeping bags for snakes whenever you need to use them.