How to handle snake bites

Though not all snakes are venomous, there are certainly not welcome in homes and gardens, or in your condominium playground.

Of the 3,000 snake species in the world, only 600 are venomous. Still, it is safer to be cautious around snakes, for a snake bite can cause serious complications if it is not treated promptly.

"A venomous snake bite can lead to serious tissue damage or necrosis and paralysis of the respiratory and skeletal muscles. Always treat a snake bite as a medical emergency," says Dr R Ponampalam, Senior Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

Tips on how to handle snake bites

Do's

• Stay calm and call 995

Let the victim of a snake bite lie in a semi-reclined position with the bite wound below the level of the heart. This prevents the venom from spreading to other parts of the body until medical help arrives.

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• Immobilise the bitten limb

Tie a bandage 2 to 4 inches above the bite wound to slow the spread of venom in the body. If the bite area turns cold or numb, the bandage is too tight. Loosen it. Use a splint to immobilise the wounded limb.

• Clean the wound

If there is bleeding, stop it first by applying pressure on the bite wound.

When the bleeding stops, clean the wound with soap and water to prevent infection. Dress up the wound. Do not wash the wound under running water.

• Get medical help early

The snake bite is usually not venomous if there is no swelling or discolouration within five minutes of being bitten. However, for some snake bites, these signs may only appear after several hours.

As snake bites can potentially be fatal, always treat a snake bite as a medical emergency. Call for help early and bring the victim to the nearest Emergency Department for further evaluation.

Don'ts

• Don't apply ice on the snake bite as the ice may block blood circulation.

• Don't suck the blood out with your mouth (germs in the mouth may cause infection in the bite wound) and you may be also exposing yourself to the venom.

• Don't attempt to cut the wound.

• Don't attempt to guess whether the snake was venomous or not, based on its physical characteristics. "Even emergency physicians are not always able to definitely identify a venomous snake," says Dr Ponampalam.

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Some signs of venomous snake bites include:

• Swelling

• Skin discolouration

• Rapid heartbeat, breathing difficulty

• Vomiting

• Sweating

• Shivering

• Intense pain

However, it is important that you do not wait for these signs to appear before seeking treatment.

Treatment of snake bites

Snake bites with significant envenomation (injection of venom) are treated with an anti-venom, usually made from equine antibodies (i.e. from horses). The doctor will first do a skin test before administering the anti-venom to make sure the patient is not allergic to it.

Even if an anti-venom is not indicated, the doctor needs to assess the patient for complications such as retained snake tooth fragments in the wound. The doctor will also suture lacerations as needed and make sure that any required tetanus booster is given.

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Prevention is the best cure for snake bites

Make sure you wear covered shoes when outdoors. When walking in forested areas avoid going off the beaten track and areas with dense undergrowth.

Snakes love to hide in dark, damp places so dispose of any big piles of rubbish around your home.

The final word of advice: If confronted with a snake, stay very calm and do not move. Let the snake slither away. Do not attempt to handle a snake even if it appears dead as it can reflexly bite up to several hours after death.

This article was written by Teresa Cheong for Health Xchange, with expert input from the Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

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Health Xchange's articles are meant for informational purposes only and cannot replace professional surgical, medical or health advise, examination, diagnosis, or treatment.