What Do You Do If A Venomous Snake Bites You?

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Venomous snakes are among the most feared and misunderstood animals on the planet. There are 600 species of venomous snakes distributed across the globe, from the deserts of Australia to the fields of North America.  

While the chances of being bitten by a venomous snake are low, safety is still a concern for anyone who could potentially encounter one of these reptiles. As most people live in an area with at least one venomous species, knowing what to do if bitten is a vital skill.

What does a snake bite feel like? If bitten, what should you do? Continue reading to find out. 

How dangerous is a venomous snake bite?

Depending on the species of venomous snake, the effects of a bite can range from temporary minor swelling to rapid organ failure and death. Some snakes have venom so potent that a single bite could kill 100 adult humans! 

Despite the lethality of these species, fatalities from snake bites are relatively rare where medical services are available. Of the 81,000 – 138,000 people who die each year from snake bites, most live in areas where treatment is inaccessible. 

In the United States, the most dangerous snake is the diamondback rattlesnake. Though not the most venomous species, its large size and aggressive nature make it responsible for the most deaths each year. 

 

What to do if bitten by a venomous snake

Step 1: Stay calm. The first and most important thing to do if bitten by a venomous snake is to remain calm. Venom circulates through the body via the bloodstream, and a panicked heartbeat causes a faster spread.

Step 2: Call for help. If you can, call 911 or local medical services as quickly as possible. If you are in an area without access to a phone or phone reception, slowly make your way to the nearest source of help. Proceed carefully and take a break if you feel dizzy.

Step 3: Photograph the snake. If possible, identify or photograph the snake that bit you. This helps medical teams know what antivenom to administer. Do not attempt to kill, capture, or chase the snake.

Step 4: Apply first aid. Until help arrives, treat the bite with basic first aid. Wash the bite area gently with soap and water, and cover it with a clean, dry bandage. Remove any rings or watches near the bite, as these may constrict blood flow if the area starts to swell. Lay down with the bitten appendage below head level. If you have a pen or marker, mark the progression of swelling with the time.

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First aid for a snake bite: what to avoid

There are many misconceptions about how to treat a snake bite, many of which do more harm than good. 

Do not:

  • Apply ice to the bite
  • Wait before calling for help
  • Apply a tight bandage or tourniquet 
  • Take pain relievers (many of these reduce the effectiveness of blood clotting)
  • Try to drain or suck out the venom

What does a snake bite feel like?

Pain may not set in immediately following a venomous snake bite—in some cases, it can take 15 minutes or more for a bite to become painful. In most venomous species, the pain comes not from the venom itself but from the damage it inflicts on the surrounding tissue. 

In North America, rattlesnakes and copperheads are the culprits of most venomous snake bites. A bite from a copperhead is accompanied by localized burning and stinging of the bite site, swelling, nausea, and sweating. Rattlesnake bites are more painful, with victims describing a feeling of an excruciating, scalding burn or persistent stabbing around the area of the bite. They are followed by extreme nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, and swelling. 

How to prevent venomous snake bites

Venomous snake bites are a painful, frightening, and potentially dangerous hazard of being outside, but should not be a reason to avoid the outdoors. There are several steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from unpleasant encounters with venomous snakes. 

  • Learn about your local species.

Learning what snakes call your area home is an important first step to preventing snake bites. Knowledge of the behavior and body language of snakes, combined with the ability to distinguish native venomous species from harmless ones, will help you identify and avoid dangerous snakes in the first place. 

  • Be mindful of your surroundings.

Whenever you are out in nature, pay attention to where you put your feet and hands. Many bites occur when people accidentally step on or brush past a hidden snake.  

  • Discourage snakes from settling on your property

Though snakes are beneficial for pest control, having them close to your home can be worrisome if you live in a region with venomous species. To prevent snakes from venturing too close to your property, keep piles of debris (ex., brush piles or lawn décor) picked up and away from your house. Close all garage doors and do not leave out anything that could attract mice.  

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Summary

The possibility of confronting a venomous snake is a fact of life for many people. Most venomous snakes bite as a last resort and would rather flee than fight, but bites may occur if the snake is stepped on or touched accidentally. There are steps you can take to reduce the chances of being bitten: when outdoors, always pay attention to your surroundings and be aware of what species you may encounter. 

Knowing what to do if envenomated by a snake is potentially lifesaving for you or those around you. Have you had a run-in with a venomous snake? Let us know in the comments. 

About Nigel

Nigel is a lifelong reptile lover and has kept pet lizards since childhood. His first was a pet Leo which was shortly followed by a Beardie named, Rocky. For the last 10 years he has kept over 20 different species but his favorite is his Banana Ball Python, Monty. You can read more from Nigel at More Reptiles

 

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  • If you can, keep pigs. Pigs will slurp down snakes and pigs thick hides and fat protect them.

  • This is good and important info for outdoorspeople. We have many types of venomous snakes here. Knowing what to do can avoid panic which is common in attacks.

    I wear snakeproof gaiters whenever I´m wild camping or bushcrafting around areas with more dense vegetation snakebite-proof gaiters. The majority of attacks are in the lower leg area.

    Gaiters are lightweight, around 600-800g for a pair even when made of natural leather. They also protect from the vegetation, against cuts, rashes and poisonous plants.

  • I was bitten by most likely copperhead on my big toe. Was on my front porch… turning off water … in the dark. Didn’t see snake but knew it was snakebite in microseconds. Scorpion sting times 1 million level pain. Could see fang marks. ER was only 7 miles away. Took 10 mg Oxycodone and made myself a Gin Martini… olives up. Wife took me to ER. Puked for 4 hours… they administered anti-venom …. 4 vials and sent me to larger hospital. 3 days in hospital. Cost of anti-venom alone 78,000 USD. We carry handguns with snake shot on our ranch and have dogs trained to detect, avoid, but notify us of Copperhead, Rattlesnake, and Water Moccasin. They have saved us many times. Highly recommend trained dogs to accompany you in snake country.

  • Good advice for those who are not prepared to deal with a snake bite. When on our farm property, I keep a 45 caliber revolver loaded with pest loads on my hip and an Extractor snake bite kit in my belt pack. (southern Missouri has a variety of venomous critters). If I or anyone else gets bitten, I’m going to remove as much venom as possible during the 11 mile trip to the county hospital. If practical, I’ll kill the snake as well. (easier to photograph when they stop moving).

  • we have some of the most poisonous snakes here in Australia, Ive heard that the aborigine would lay down in a safe place for about three days and stay calm let the lymphatic system drain it out of their bodies if they were bitten

    • I’m not sure why US snakebites are treated differently than Australian snakes although I suspect it is because their teeth deliver venom differently than other species – it is not injected. I have include standard first aid instructions for Australia and maybe Nigel can explain the different reasons for treatment.

      Snake bites are common in Australia. Each year around 3000 to 5000 snakebites a year happen in Australia and they account for 2 death per year. The bites occur around the home as well as out in the bush or other wild areas. Mostly, snakes attacks are a defensive response from people “interfering” with them, but also there is the occasional person who walks out their front door on a rural property to and treads on a snake.

      There are 2 different types of snake bite:

      Dry Bites: is when the snake strikes but no venom is released. Dry bites are painful and may cause swelling and redness around the area of the snake bite, but do not require antivenomous treatment.

      Venomous bites: are when the snake bites and releases venom into a wound.
      The symptoms of a venomous bite are a stinging or burning sensation on the skin, feelings of nausea, dizziness, anxiousness and confusion. In severe cases, the bite may result in paralysis or coma.

      As it is difficult to assess what type of snake bite it is, always treat any bite as a venomous bite and manage it as a medical emergency.

      The signs of a snake bite are usually two puncture wounds on the skin close together or a single or multiple straight scratch/ lacerations and swelling and pain around the bitten area. Other signs include headache, nausea or vomiting, drowsiness, blurred vision, breathing difficulties, cold and pale skin.

      As time is of the essence in this cases, knowing what to do and how to provide First Aid can help you to save a life. So here are the 5 things you should do:

      Don’t move the person, rest , calm and reassure them.

      Call 000

      Place a clean dressing over the bite site this will absorb any venom and will help to identify the snake later.

      Bandage: if bitten on a limb, apply a broad pressure bandage around the bite, firmly. Then with a second bandage, start at the fingers or toes and firmly bandage upwards, covering as much as the limb as possible.

      Immobilize the limb with a splint or sling. Mark the bitten area with a pen, dirt or a small snip of the bandage so it can be easily identified by the medical staff.

      Try to make the person comfortable and reassure them that help is on their way.

  • The Australian below described the typical treatment for a snakebite in Australia. They don’t shoot snakes ever yet have a plethora of venomous critters! I understand hikers in the outback carry pressure bandages with them. Wrapping the limb with enough but not too much pressure is a learned skill. The impressive statistic: when treated this way no deaths occur for year after year down under! One would suspect that they are the experts=====8~

  • Some venomous snake bites require elevation of the bite if possible (copperhead) to reduce swelling while water moccasin bite requires keeping it lower. I’m just learning about this myself having moved south. Learning to identify snakes correctly (the rhyme is not correct/reliable) helps.

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