There are scores of urban myths floating around about snake bites and the proper methods with which to treat them. Unfortunately, these myths have been accepted as truth too often and have resulted in senseless deaths and injuries related to snake bites. If you are bitten by a snake, these are the things that you should not do to treat the wound.
Snake Bite Urban Myths: Poison & Infection
Snake bites are dangerous for two reasons: poison and infection. The former is the product of a bite by a poisonous snake, such as a copperhead or coral snake, and the latter can be the product of either a poisonous or nonpoisonous snake, and is a danger with any injury that tears the skin. It is important to remember that even if you are bitten by a nonpoisonous snake, there are still dangers.
Snake Bite Urban Myths: Know Poisonous Snakes
If you are going to be hiking, walking or traversing an area that is rife with poisonous snakes, you should be able to identify them on sight. Poisonous snakes do not all have common characteristics, though some urban myths would have you believe that they all have triangular heads and bright colors. Rather than relying on these fallible identifiers, research the poisonous snakes in a locality so you’ll know what to avoid.
Snake Bite Urban Myths: Sucking Poison Through Mouth
If you’ve been bitten – or suspect that you’ve been bitten – by a poisonous snake, you will need to obtain medical attention immediately. Attempting to suck the poison out of the wound through your mouth – even if you intend to spit – can cause the poison to spread to the mouth and even into the bloodstream through any cuts in the lips or gums.
Snake Bite Urban Myths: Snakebite Kits
Although they are marketed as effective, snakebite kits are more harmful than helpful. The suction cups provided for extracting snake venom are inadequate because, in most cases, snake venom progresses into the blood stream much more rapidly than you could hope to control. Further, even a drop of snake venom left in the wound can be deadly.
Snake Bite Urban Myths: Cutting the Wound
Some urban myths will have you believe that cutting the wound will help to extract the venom. This is patently untrue. First of all, cutting the wound will cause more tissue damage, which is one thing that snake venom is already doing. Secondly, losing more blood will cause your body’s immune system to weaken much faster.
Snake Bite Urban Myths: What You Should Do
Rather than subscribing to these urban myths, attempt to attain medical help as quickly as possible. If you are too far away to reach a hospital within an hour, you can use a cold compress on the wound to help slow the spread of the venom to the rest of your body. Don’t take any prescription or OTC medication, which can actually make things worse; you should also avoid imbibing alcohol. Instead, get to a hospital as quickly as possible and, if feasible, take a picture of the snake that bit you so that the hospital personnel can identify it. If taking a picture isn’t possible, try to remember exactly what the snake looked like so that the proper antivenin can be administered.
