Snakebites

Snakebites are common in the deserts, in the forests and areas remote from construction. Poisonous snakes constitute small percentage of snakes, even though, the bite is generally accompanied by blood and neurological disorders require hospitalization. Some cases end with death in spite of medical care and rescue procedures.

Providing first aid at the beginning of the injury could alleviate the damage caused by these stings, as it is often in cases that end with death, the cause is the delay of medical care.

Snake venom contains several toxic proteins that affect either the nerves; or blood causing tissue destruction owing to the bleeding resulting from the decomposition of the blood.

Symptoms of Snakebites:

An acute pain in the sting location with redness, swelling and blood pumping, with a feel of metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, tendency to vomiting and a drop in blood pressure.
Fall in the eyelid, difficulty in swallowing caused by muscle paralysis, duplication of vision and breathing might stop.

First Aid for Snakebites:

Position the patient comfortably with the injured part still in order to reduce the spread of venom.
Tie the location a few centimeters below the sting less strongly with (compression bandage) to prevent a return of superficial venous blood, free the tie every half hour for two minutes.
Avoid putting snow on sting location because it produces more sabotage to tissues.
If the injured is not moved to hospital within 15 minutes, cut along the sting location a half centimeter in depth and then suck the blood through the mouth or breast pacifier.
Cutting and Sucking are important activities because they reduce 50% of the poison injected under the skin if conducted quickly.
Transfer victim to hospital without moving the injured part.