The best way to

manage a snake bite is

to prevent it from
happening..!
 To identify if the bite was from a poisonous
snake
There are 216 SPECIES of snakes and 52 are
VENOMOUS
Pain at the bite site with numbness and
swelling that is spreading is usually from a
VENOMOUS SNAKE.
Do initial first aid and send to
a hospital or healthcare
provider
 There are different types of snake venom
that manifest in different ways in the body
Some cause anaphylactic reaction (or very
severe allergic reactions)
Some cause direct injury to muscle tissues
and cause the tissue to become black and
gangrenous
Some cause direct damage to the nerves and
the nervous system and may cause seizures
Some cause direct damage to
the internal organs like the
heart, lungs, liver or kidneys
Swelling is usually seen at the bite site
Blistering may occur close to the bite site
Swelling may spread to the rest of the body
Bleeding at the wound site may not stop oozing
 Feeling the heart racing
Difficulty breathing or tightening of the chest
Bleeding manifestations or bruising
Blood pressure anomalies (either too high or
too low)
Loss of senses such as taste, touch and smell
Inability to speak or swallow
Numbness around the mouth or throat
Blurring of vision
Dizziness or loss of consciousness
 Local wound care clean the wound well
Tetanus toxoid (and antibody) injection
Observation -24 48 hrs for worsening of
condition
Pain relief
Antibiotics
Medicines against swelling
May give antihistamines/steroids for
anaphylactic reactions to venom
 AVOID APPLYING A TOURNIQUET ABOVE
THE SITE AND KEEPING IT FOR TOO LONG
IF THE PATIENT COMES WITH A TOURNIQUET
always CHECK FOR VASCULARITY
It is better to apply an elastic bandage
around the limb that has been bitten
Do not incise the bite wound nor apply any
chemicals over it
Do not suck out the venom
 Antivenom is treatment designed to directly
counter attack the active chemicals in snake
venom
 USE ANTI SNAKE VENOM WHEN THERE ARE:
Neurological manifestations
Bleeding or hemorrhaging
Bloody urine
Heart irregularities
Local swelling involving more than half of the
bitten limb
Rapid extension of swelling
Development of an enlarged tender
Lymph node draining the bitten limb
 Best effect when used within 4 hours after
being bitten
Can be administered up to 48 hours, after
which, it is virtually useless to give
Efficacy is seen up to 6-7 days after
administration
 Allergic
and anaphylactic reactions do occur
with anti-snake venom. This means a patient
may die not because of the snake venom but
because of reactions to the antidote

Discontinue if there are signs of itching,

fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
abdominal cramps, palpitations

Sometimes may present with dizziness,

loss of consciousness
 Make sure they have no place to hide clean
your surroundings
Make sure you do not have vermin they go
where there are rats and mice as these serve
as their food
Pets like cats and mongoose eat snakes
Tall grass and thick shrub has to be trimmed
Gravel on the driveway or walk wards
snakes away they hate the noise and
vibrations from crunching gravel