Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Snake Bite
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| The danger of snake bites: |
| can cause infection or allergic reaction in some people. |
| Snakes cause poisonous bites |
| Rattlesnake |
| Copperhead |
| Cottonmouth |
| Water Moccasin |
| Treatment :- |
| Call for emergency assistance immediately |
| if someone has been |
| bitten by a snake. Responding quickly in this type of emergency is |
| crucial. |
| Don't try to capture the snake. |
| While waiting for emergency assistance: |
| Don't cut the wound or suck the venom with your mouth. |
| Wash the bite with soap and water. |
| Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart. |
| Cover the area with a clean, cool compress or a moist dressing to minimize swelling and |
| discomfort. |
| Monitor vital signs. |
| If a victim is unable to reach medical care within 30 minutes, the American Red Cross |
| recommends: |
| Apply a bandage, wrapped two to four inches above the bite, to help slow the venom. This |
| should not cut off the flow of blood from a vein or artery - the band should be loose |
| enough to slip a finger under it. |
| A suction device can be placed over the bite to help draw venom out of the wound without |
| making cuts. These devices are often included in commercial snake bite kits. |
| Most often, physicians use antivenin -- an antidote to snake venom -- to treat serious snake |
| bites. Antivenin is derived from antibodies created in a horse's blood serum when the |
| animal is injected with snake venom. Because antivenin is obtained from horses, snake bite |
| victims sensitive to horse products must be carefully managed. |
| Preventing snake bites: |
| Some bites, such as those inflicted when you accidentally step on a snake in the woods, are |
| nearly impossible to prevent. However, there are precautions that can reduce your |
| chances of being bitten by a snake. These include: |
| Leave snakes alone. Many people are bitten because they try to kill a snake or get too close |
| to it. |
| Stay out of tall grass unless you wear thick leather boots and remain on hiking paths as |
| much as possible. |
| Keep hands and feet out of areas you cannot see. |
| Do not pick up rocks or firewood unless you are out of a snake's striking distance. |
| Be cautious and alert when climbing rocks. |
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