Cairn India – 2008

SNAKE BITE
PREVENTION TIPS & FIRST AID
Introduction

All glitters are not gold, similarly all snakes are not poisonous.

 Common poisonous snakes found in India are- Cobra, Common

Krait, Russell Viper, Saw scaled Viper and Sea snake.

 Commonest poisonous snake on land is common krait.

What is snake venom (Poison)?

Venom is the saliva of snake, a

complex mixture of enzymes, low
molecular weight polypeptides , lipo-
proteins and metal ions.

It is stored in salivary glands

(situated behind the eyes)- one on
each side of the head above the
upper jaw.
Prognosis

Severity of Sign & symptoms of a snake bite depends upon following:

1. Nature, location, depth and number of bites; 98% of the snake bites occur
over extremities.
2. The length of time the snake holds on
3. The extent of anger or fear that motivates the snake
4. The amount of venom injected
5. The species and size of the snake
6. The condition of its fangs and venom glands
7. The age and size of victim
8. The victim’s sensitivity to the venom
9. The pathogens in the snake and
10. The first aid and medical care.
Cobra
 Neurotoxic

 Local symptoms starts with in 6-8 min.

 Small reddish wheal develops at the site of bite.

 Nausea and vomiting.

 Victim feels sleepy, slightly intoxicated, weakness of legs and has disinclination to stand or
move.
 Weakness of the muscles - later on paralysis.

 Excessive salivation. Difficulty in speech and swallowing

 Respiration become slower and heart rate increases.

 Extraoccular muscle weakness , ptosis and strabismus.

 Convulsions, victim is conscious but unable to speak.

 Leads to death.
Krait

 Neurotoxic

 Symptoms resembles to Cobra bite the differences are-

 No swelling or burning pain at the site of the bite.

 Convulsions are milder.

 Drowsiness and intoxication is more.

 Albumin in urine.
VIPER

 Predominantly haemotoxic
 More than 50% of cases victim have minimal or no
poisoning.
 In mild cases- pain and swelling disappear with in 1-2 days. Russell Viper
 In moderate cases- intense pain and redness at the bite site.
Vomiting, giddiness, sweating, abdominal pain, dilatation of
pupils-insensitive to light and in about 1-2 hours victim
collapse and often became unconscious.
 Skin temp. raised. Tingling and numbness over tongue and
mouth.
 Severe cases- mainly persistent shock.
Saw Scale Viper
 Bleeding from gums, rectum, bite site etc may occur.
Sea Snake

 Myotoxic

 Bite cause little or no local reaction.

 After 1/2-1 hour- pain, stiffness and weakness of the skeletal muscles.

 Marked muscle weakness.

 Renal failure.
How can you avoid snakebites?

 You can avoid snakebites by taking the following steps:

 Avoid places where snakes may live. These places include tall grass or brush,
rocky areas, fallen logs, bluffs, swamps, marshes, and deep holes in the
ground.
 Develop the habit of watching where you step and where you place your
hands.
 Never put hands in hollow logs or thick grass or under woodpiles, building
material etc without prior inspection.
 Watch where you step and where you sit when outdoors.

 Wear loose, long pants and high, thick leather or rubber boots.
How can you avoid snakebites?

 Take care around houses; barns etc on warm nights, as snakes may be active at this
time.
 Wear shoes around the house.

 Wear gloves when weeding.

 Don’t take short cuts in late evenings in poorly illuminated areas. Shine a flashlight
on your path when walking outside at night.
 Never handle a snake, even if you think it is dead. Recently killed snakes may still
bite by reflex.
 Keep grass well cut - particularly in playgrounds, around houses etc.

 Keep landscape well manicured.

 Educate children in the above precautions.

What should you do if a snake bites you or to
someone?

 Stay calm.

 The most commonly recommended treatment today is to keep the bite area
immobilized below the level of the heart.
 Take off any jewelry or tight clothing near the bite quickly, before swelling
starts.
 Clean the bite wound. Be sure to wipe in the direction away from the wound.

 Tie an elastic wrap / broad bandage two inches above the bite. The wrap
should be loose enough to slip a finger underneath it.
 Get the victim to a hospital as quickly as possible. Anti snake venom serum is
the only sure cure.
DONTS

 Do NOT approach the snake; don't try to catch it or to kill it.

 DO NOT cut or excise the bitten area and make it bleed.

 Do NOT try to suck the venom out of the wound.

 Do NOT put ice on the bite to slow the spread of the venom. Researchers
have found freezing of the stricken limb is a major factor leading to
amputation.
 DO NOT apply a tourniquet (tourniquets, which cut off the circulation to the
limb, are potentially dangerous, and are no longer recommended).
 DO NOT rely on visual identification of snakes as non-venomous, as
appearances and coloration may vary considerably within species.