Snake bite
Patient education
- Go for emergency care immediately
- Keep the person and limb still
- Do not cut, suck or tie tightly
What it is
A suspected snakebite needs urgent hospital assessment. Venom can damage tissue, affect blood clotting or interfere with breathing. Some bites do not inject venom, but appearance alone cannot establish safety.
When to seek urgent care
Any snakebite is suspected. Do not wait for swelling, bleeding, weakness or breathing difficulty to appear. Keep the person still and arrange immediate transport to a hospital.
How it shows
Pain and swelling spreading from the bite, bleeding that does not stop, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or collapse.
What to do
Arrange immediate transport to hospital. Keep the person still and calm, support the limb comfortably, and remove rings or tight items. Carry the person if possible. Do not catch the snake or delay transport to identify it.
Do not cut the wound, suck it, apply a tight tourniquet, use ice, or give traditional remedies. All of these make the outcome worse, and delay is the most dangerous of them.
What to do now
Move away from the snake without trying to catch or kill it. Arrange emergency transport immediately, even if pain or swelling seems slight. Some effects of venom take time to appear. The bitten person should not walk if they can be carried or drive themselves.
Keep them calm and as still as possible. Support the bitten limb in a comfortable position and remove rings, watches or tight items before swelling. If safely possible, note the time and appearance of the snake; do not delay transport to get a picture.
Avoid harmful first aid
Do not cut the wound, suck venom, apply ice, use electric shock, or apply a tight tourniquet. Herbal preparations and 'snake stones' do not replace treatment. Do not give alcohol or use aspirin or ibuprofen as improvised treatment.
Antivenom is selected by clinicians when indicated and must be given where reactions and complications can be treated. Not every bite needs antivenom, but every suspected snakebite needs urgent assessment. For prevention, use a torch at night, wear protective footwear and avoid reaching into holes or piles you cannot see into.