Bitten by a poisonous snake: what to do, how to help, the consequences of a bite. What to do if bitten by a snake: first aid rules and dangerous mistakes What to do if you are bitten by a poisonous snake

No one is safe from meeting with a snake, because on our planet there are more than 3000 species of snakes alone. A snake, like most predatory animals, rarely attacks for no apparent reason. And most often this happens on her part as self-defense, when a person unknowingly invades her personal space or, not noticing a snake in high meadow grass, among deep moss in a swamp or when picking berries, accidentally steps on her tail. And who would like that? We will tell you more about what to do if you are bitten by a snake!

If you suddenly notice a snake in front of you, do not make sudden movements, step back smoothly, when it sees you, it will crawl away on its own. This situation is possible when picking berries, because the berry picker moves slowly and quietly, and the snake may not hear him. But more often it happens the other way around - the snake is the first to notice a person and rarely lets him closer than 3-4 meters, denoting the acceptable limit with a loud warning hiss. To avoid an unwanted meeting, when going to the snake land for a walk or for berries, wear high rubber boots and pants made of thick canvas or denim, and when moving, try to make more noise, you can use a stick. It should also be borne in mind that spring, fresh after hibernation, snake venom is much more intense than summer, that is, snakes are more dangerous in spring.

Bitten by a snake, how to behave

But what to do if, nevertheless, the conflict could not be avoided and the snake attacked? First, it is important not to succumb to excitement and remain as calm as possible. Panic speeds up the heartbeat and blood flow, and therefore the speed of the poison spreading through the body. To begin with, to slow down the circulation of blood and lymph, take a horizontal position and keep, as far as possible, the immobility of the bitten place.

Most often, the bite occurs either in the forearm or in the lower leg. In this case, it is recommended to fix the hand on the bandage, as is done when applying a cast, and tie the bitten leg to a healthy leg in order to prevent excessive muscle contraction, which accelerates blood flow. Next, you need to, keeping calm, inspect the bite site. It often happens that the snake fails to accurately calculate the moment of release of the poison and it remains on the clothes or on the skin. In this case, you need to take off your clothes and quickly rinse the skin with water at the site of the bite so that the poison is not absorbed into the scratch. If a wound remains on the skin, you need to carefully examine it. The bites of venomous and non-venomous snakes are different. A non-venomous snake simply leaves two parallel thin scratches or two rows of dots - teeth marks. in bite poisonous snake at the end of each scratch or row of points there is a puncture from a poisonous tooth - the place where she injected the poison. And sometimes it's just two punctures without any scratches. Additional evidence of the poisonousness of the snake will be signs of poisoning with snake venom: nausea, dizziness, double vision, shortness of breath, drowsiness, sweating, vomiting and fainting, the skin at the site of the wound will turn red, swell and will hurt.

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For further competent actions, in particular, the choice of the right serum by doctors, it is very good if you have time to examine the underarm and be able to describe it. In our Russian forests, mountains and swamps, most often you have to deal with common vipers (vipera berus), which are confused with peaceful and non-poisonous snakes.

In a viper, unlike a snake, a triangular head expanding towards the back of the head and a short snub-nosed muzzle are salient feature all poisonous snakes. The pupil of the viper is predatory - vertical, and that of the snake it is rounded. The tail of the viper is characterized by a sharp, noticeable narrowing towards the tip. The snake's tail is elongated and gradually fades away. Many species of snakes have a bright orange or yellow necklace on the back of their heads - the main feature by which it is easily distinguished from a viper. In addition to the viper, in the territory of the former CIS, namely in the Caucasus and in the south Central Asia, you can meet two more dangerous snakes, which are more correctly called asps - these are gyurza and efa (desert viper).

So - bitten by a snake! If punctures are found in the wound, you need to act immediately. In the first 5-10 minutes, you can try to squeeze out and suck out the poison. If everything is done quickly and competently, it can work. Although many believe that these are useless actions due to the delay over time due to shock and stupor in the first few minutes after the bite. But if you don't panic, you can do everything. You should know that the snake's poisonous tooth is 1-2 cm long, and if the bite took place on full program, then the injection site itself is located quite deep under the skin, and the tissues at the puncture site, due to its small size, quickly close.

How to suck out poison if bitten by a snake

That is, in order to squeeze out the poison, you need to make a wide girth of the skin around the bite and try to squeeze the blood out of the formed fold, taking into account just such a depth of the poison. If everything worked out, after squeezing out the wound will open slightly, and here you can already try to suck out the poison. At the same time, do not forget to spit carefully, and after the procedure, rinse your mouth for 15 minutes. Doctors strongly advise against sucking out poison if there is no certainty that there are no wounds, damages and other in the oral cavity. open spaces, through which the poison can enter the bloodstream. If this circumstance is not taken into account, not only the victim will have to be saved, but also the one who saves, and the situation of the latter will be much worse due to the fact that the poison enters the body in the head area. Therefore, in order not to increase the risk of the situation, there is an option to suck out the poison by placing an ordinary jar in place of the bite and holding it for about a minute.

A bite wound must not be pulled

There is such a widespread belief among the population that when a snake bites, you need to tighten the place above the bite with a tourniquet in order to slow down the movement of blood. This is a fatal delusion - in no case should this be done. Because the blood will go through the deep bone veins and it will be much more difficult, if not impossible, to correct the situation. No stretches! Most often, such measures to save the victim lead to the formation of dead tissues, which then cannot be resuscitated, and a person in general can lose a limb not because of a bite, but because of the illiterate help of compassionate people. After all, viper venom itself contributes to tissue necrosis and blood clotting, and a tight bandage will only exacerbate the effect of the poison. It is better to apply the so-called superficial lymphatic tourniquet - a bandage 2-4 cm wide, so that a finger passes freely between the bandage and the skin. Such a bandage will weaken the superficial lymph flow, and, as you know, snake venom spreads mainly through the lymphatics, and not through the blood vessels.

Bitten by a snake - help in the hospital

In general, all the main efforts to save a person bitten by a snake should be aimed at delivering the victim to the hospital of the nearest settlement within 3-5 hours from the moment of the bite, where doctors can provide competent and effective assistance: determine the poison and introduce a suitable serum. Until that moment, the victim needs to be given a diuretic - teas on lingonberries, cranberries, or just let him drink a lot of water. You can not drink anything exciting, speeding up the heartbeat - tea, coffee, alcohol should be excluded. If it is not possible to deliver the victim to the hospital, that is, the group is away from settlements, in the first-aid kit, anti-viper serum should be provided for such a case. Serum is injected in the amount of 1-2 ampoules into the area between the shoulder blades 25-30 minutes after the victim takes 1-2 tablets of prednisolone (5-10 mg). Serum is injected in portions, starting with 0.1 ml, to check if there is an allergic shock reaction.

More than 90 species of snakes are found in Russia. Poisonous snakes living in Russia include:

• viper (ordinary, steppe, Caucasian, nosy);
• gyurza;
• muzzle.

Viper and muzzle are found almost throughout the country. Gyurza is the closest relative of the viper family, but larger (up to 1.5 meters in length), lives in mountain-steppe and semi-desert regions.

Already ordinary and already water, all varieties of snakes, as well as common copperhead are harmless to people. Their bite in rare cases is accompanied only by an allergic reaction.

To avoid the consequences of allergies, take any drug for allergies: Suprastin, Tavegil and others.

Non-venomous snakes of Russia

The snake does not attack first, all its throws, hisses and attempts to bite are self-defense. To avoid snake aggression and to protect yourself from a bite, be careful: do not disturb the snake and it will not touch you.

Favorite places for snakes - anything that will serve as a shelter:

• high grass,
• overgrown lakes,
• swamps,
• stone ruins,
• abandoned quarries and buildings,
• stumps, roots and trunks of trees,
• a stack of hay,

It is better not to climb into such places with bare hands and carefully look under your feet so as not to accidentally step on a snake.

Poisonous snakes of Russia

External differences between venomous and non-venomous snakes

Poisonous snakes differ in body type, color, pupil shape, and bite shape.

The body of the common viper is thick, short; grey, black or brown. Distinctive feature in the color of the viper - a “zigzag” on the back (with a black color, the “zigzag” may not be visible).

The non-poisonous and harmless common snake, which is often confused with the viper, has a long and subtle body gray or black with yellow or red spots on the head. Thanks to such bright "ears" it is easy to distinguish the snake from the viper.

All venomous snakes have vertical pupils ("cat's eye"), while non-venomous snakes have round pupils.

It is likely that when meeting with a snake, you can forget about all the differences from fear. Therefore, if you still did not show caution and the snake bit you, try not to panic!

The bite of a venomous snake is different from the bite of a non-venomous one.

Signs of a venomous snake bite

A venomous snake has teeth through which venom is injected when it bites. Therefore, the bite wound has two large points. Around such a wound, within a short period of time (from 5 to 15 minutes), a tumor forms, severe pain is felt and the person has a high temperature.

Signs of a non-venomous snake bite

From the bite non-venomous snake small, barely noticeable dots are formed in several rows (usually from 2 to 4). Such a bite has no side effects, the wound must be treated with an antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide, medical alcohol, etc.)

Outsider

1. Reassure the victim and lay him down horizontally. Remember: when moving, the blood circulation spreads the poison in the body faster.
2. Keep the affected limb at rest. If the bite was in the arm, then fix it to the body, if in the leg, lay it on the board and tie it.
3. Disinfect the wound and apply a sterile dressing.
4. Take the victim to a doctor as soon as possible.
5. Give as much liquid as possible.

An outsider is not always able to squeeze out or suck out the poison, and, moreover, cut the wound. The safest thing, after providing first aid for a snake bite, is to take the victim to the hospital.

What not to do when bitten by a snake

• Drinking alcohol. By expanding the blood vessels, alcohol will instantly spread the poison throughout the body.
• cauterize the wound. Causes burns and severe shock. Does not contain snake venom chemical elements, which disintegrate from heating, so cauterization will not help, but will aggravate the condition of the victim.
• Apply tourniquet. Due to circulatory disorders, soft tissue necrosis (death of a skin area) can be obtained. Severe cases lead to limb amputation.
• panic. Does not allow a person to soberly assess the situation.

It is possible to distinguish a poisonous individual from a harmless snake by a number of specific features:

• the head of a reptile with a poisonous apparatus is similar to a triangle. In addition, the neck is separated from the head by an isthmus. But in non-dangerous individuals, the head has an oval or round shape, smoothly passes into the body;
• harmless reptiles have round pupils, while dangerous ones have cat-like pupils;
• poisonous snakes have a bright color, and when the mouth is opened, two fangs become visible. Harmless individuals do not have this;
• at dangerous snakes between the nostrils are the so-called thermosensitive pits. But in non-dangerous reptiles, these are absent;
• the main sign of a dangerous individual is a tail in the form of a rattle;
• after the bite of a poisonous reptile, a trace of fangs will remain on the human body, but only minor scratches will be visible from the bite of a non-dangerous reptile.

Of course, when meeting with a snake, a person is unlikely to remember the differences described. That said, you still need to be careful. In the event that an individual has inflicted a bite, it is important not to panic and try to pull yourself together.

As mentioned above, a poisonous reptile has fangs, with which it injects poison during a bite. As a rule, after an attack, two small wounds remain on the human body. In addition, when attacking a poisonous snake, the following signs are observed:

• after a few minutes, swelling appears around the bite;
• the victim is in severe pain;
• the temperature rises sharply.

With this phenomenon, it is important to provide timely assistance to the victim of the reptile. Otherwise, death is possible.

Signs of a non-venomous snake bite

If a person was attacked by a non-dangerous reptile, bite marks will be visible in the form of barely noticeable dots or scratches. The bite of a snake that does not have a poisonous apparatus is not dangerous. After the attack, the wound is washed with any antiseptic.

If a poisonous snake attacked, the first thing that is required of the victim is to pull himself together and not panic. In the case when there are no close people nearby, you will need to provide assistance on your own. It is important to remember: after a bite, you can not move much. Because than more people makes movements, the faster the poison spreads throughout the body. When attacking, actions must be consistent and calm.

If bitten by a poisonous snake, you will need to do the following:

• calm down and not make sudden movements with the injured limb;
• it is important to squeeze the poison out of the bite area as soon as possible. This procedure takes 3-5 minutes. The best option would be to suck out the poison, provided that oral cavity not affected by caries and there is no bleeding gums;
• if the above options are unacceptable, the wound can be incised. The incision must be made in such a way as not to damage the veins or arteries. The optimal incision depth is 1 cm. It is not advisable to do less excision, since there will be no effect;
• the bite site is recommended to be disinfected. For these purposes, you can use alcohol, brilliant green or hydrogen peroxide;
• after emergency care, it is necessary to get to the hospital as soon as possible;
• the bite of a venomous snake is fraught with the development of a severe allergic reaction. Therefore, you should try to drink any medication for allergies as soon as possible;
• After helping the victim, you need to drink plenty of water. An ordinary liquid without gas accelerates the process of removing poison from the body.

It depends on the correctness of urgent actions whether it will be possible to avoid complications due to a reptile bite. If an adult was injured by a snake, with timely assistance, the body will return to normal on the third day after the attack. In children rehabilitation period may take up to 5 days.

If a person has been attacked by a venomous individual, those who were nearby at the time of the bite should do the following:

• calm the victim and try to carefully lay him in a horizontal position;
• the affected area should be at rest. You can fix an arm or leg by tying it to a stick or board;
• the wound is treated with a disinfectant and a sterile bandage is applied;
• give a lot of water to drink;
• cause an emergency.

When rendering to an outsider, it is not always possible to squeeze out the poison and even more so to make an incision. In view of this, the safest option would be to promptly deliver the victim to a medical facility.

After an attack by a poisonous individual, it is strictly forbidden to do the following:

• drink alcoholic beverages. Alcohol contributes to the rapid spread of poison throughout the body;
• try to burn the wound. Reptile venom consists of natural elements that do not decompose even with strong heat. In view of this, the cauterization method will not only not bring positive result, but on the contrary, it can aggravate the condition of the victim;
• pull the bitten limb tightly. By pulling the arm or leg of the victim with a tourniquet, it is possible to form soft tissue necrosis. And this, in turn, will lead to amputation of the limb.

Currently, there are a number of developed anti-venom serums for snakebite. However, it is more expedient to use them for the bites of the most dangerous individuals that live in tropical and subtropical conditions.

With regard to snakes living in our latitudes, the use of antivenom serum is inappropriate, since after its administration a number of serious complications can form. Moreover, it is much more difficult to cope with the complications that have arisen compared to the consequences of a bite.

The introduction of serum can provoke the following negative phenomena:

• cause a severe allergic reaction;
• disorders of the kidneys and liver;
• heart failure, which in some cases leads to death.

In addition, it is important to note that snakebite antivenom is only effective when the serum is administered on time and correctly. This can only be provided medical workers as well as eliminate the occurrence of side effects.

In the case when, after the attack of the reptile, it is not possible to get help in a medical institution, it would be most correct to administer an intramuscular antihistamine and a drug that blocks the development of shock.

The severity of symptoms when attacking a poisonous reptile depends on many factors:

• what is the body weight of the victim. As a rule, the less the victim weighs, the more pronounced the symptoms after the bite. In view of what children endure the attack much harder than an adult;
• the site of the bite. The greatest danger is posed by bites made in the area circulatory system, in the head and neck area;
• season. The hotter the weather, the more active intoxication occurs;
• the amount of poison released. Reptile attacks do not always come with venom injections. As a rule, if the viper has recently bit into the victim, then a new portion has not yet had time to develop.

As for the symptoms that appear after the attack, it is as follows:

• in the attack zone, reddening of the surface of the skin is observed;
• observed local temperature;
• clearly visible traces of the fangs of the reptile;
• edema forms around the wound;
• the tumor spreads up the limb;
• a person feels weakness in the body;
• dizziness may occur;
• worried about severe pain in the head;
• tachycardia is observed;
• there is nausea and the urge to vomit.

Similar symptoms are inherent in adults. In the case when, the symptoms are more severe:

• the affected arm or leg becomes numb;
• gradually paralysis affects the whole body, including the face;
• breathing becomes heavy;
• swallowing function is disturbed;
• possible failure of the heart muscle.

In addition, the child may experience the process of uncontrolled urination. With such symptoms, it is important to immediately contact a medical institution for help.

If you plan to visit places where poisonous individuals live, it is important to follow a few simple rules:

• put on thick socks and high rubber boots on your feet;
• it is better to give preference to wide trousers that are tucked into boots;
• if a person visits the habitats of snakes in search of berries and, it is better to use a long stick, which is pushed apart by bushes;
• faced with a poisonous individual, you can not make sudden movements, and even more so throw stones and sticks at it. The best way is to slowly start to retreat.

In the case when a person goes to the forest with an overnight stay, you can reduce the risk of a reptile attack by observing the following rules:

• before pitching the tent, it is recommended to create strong ground vibrations. To do this, they jump well or stomp their feet strongly. Reptiles do not tolerate such movements and rush to leave this zone as soon as possible;
• close the pitched tent well. To do this, use stones and heavy decks of wood;
• it is not recommended to leave personal belongings behind the tent;
• walking through the forest at night you need to be as careful as possible. These individuals are especially active at this time of day.

By following these precautions, you will be able to avoid a dangerous meeting in the forest.

Poisonous snakes of Russia

More than 90 species of snakes live on the territory of the Russian Federation. However, not all of them are poisonous. The following types of reptiles are considered the most dangerous:

• all varieties of vipers;
• viper snake;
• muzzle.

Viper and muzzle are found in almost all regions of the country. But the gyurza chooses mountain steppes and semi-desert regions as a habitat. When attacking these individuals, the first thing to do for the victim is to take any antihistamine and seek medical help.

When snakes bite

The snakes never attack first. Often, the throw of this individual is just an attempt to protect itself from an uninvited guest who has wandered into its territory. Therefore, in order not to provoke a reptile, one should avoid its habitats.

Most snakes choose the following zones for life:

• overgrown and deserted lakes;
• high grass;
• swampy area;
• abandoned quarries;
• tree trunks and stumps.

These places are best avoided. But if there is a need to visit them, you need to wear protective clothing and carefully look under your feet while driving.

Snakes are found not only in "hot" countries. Representatives of this detachment can also be found in the central part of Russia.

What can spoil a pleasant vacation in nature, in the forest, a tourist trip or the performance of professional duties in areas inhabited by snake representatives? Of course, their bite. Snakes don't bite people just like that, but if they are disturbed - a lightning throw, and their teeth pierce into the flesh. Therefore, it is important to know what should be the emergency, first aid for a snake bite.

The first and subsequent symptoms, the severity of venom poisoning depend on the type of snake, the amount of poison, season, age and general health of the victim. Most often, a snake bites a person in the arm or leg.

Symptoms in children are more pronounced, intoxication is more severe, sometimes with complications, so first aid for a snake (viper) bite of a child should be provided immediately.

Algorithm for providing assistance to the victim

When bitten by a venomous snake, first aid includes a series of actions aimed at quickly removing the poison and minimizing its toxic effect.

Actions before the arrival of doctors:

Action	Description
	If the snake has stuck to the body, remove it by any means (kill, discard). If possible, photograph the snake or take the dead animal with you so that doctors can determine what care to provide to the patient.
	Lay the victim on a flat surface (this position and rest reduce the likelihood of a rapid spread of poison through the bloodstream).
	Call 103, 112, report the bite. You can get the necessary instructions from the operator on how to competently provide first aid, which hospital you need to go to if you have your own transport.
	Start immediately providing first aid, especially with bites to the head and neck (the rapid spread of poison to vital organs is fatal).
	Take off watches, rings, bracelets. And partially free the bitten part from clothing. After a bite, edema develops, jewelry will squeeze the body and interfere with normal blood circulation.
	Drops of poison can remain on clothes, you need to make sure that it does not get into the wounds.
	Partially remove the poison, (immediately after the bite): Wipe the bite in the opposite direction (from the wound).
	Gather the skin into a fold, squeeze, when drops of poison appear, gently wipe off the squeezed out liquid.
	Remove snake venom from the wound by suction (in the first 3-10 minutes after the bite). Suck out the poison from the wound, constantly spitting out the liquid from the wound. The procedure should be carried out for at least 15 minutes.
	If it is impossible to suck out the poison, you can use a jar, a glass. To do this, you need to insert a burning match into the container to create rarefied pressure, and lower it to the bite site.
	Treat the wound with any antiseptic. Antiseptics (potassium permanganate solution, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol) reduce the likelihood of wound infection. listed list, with a snake bite, you can choose any drug.
	Apply a pressure bandage over the bite site. A moderately pressing bandage protects the wound and reduces the rate of spread of the poison through the bloodstream (the bandage should not strongly squeeze the tissues in order to avoid gangrene - it is possible to stick two fingers between it and the body, and the pulse should be felt).
	If the bite wound is located on the leg or arm, the limb must be immobilized (put a splint or bandaged to the body). The bitten limb should be raised 15-39 cm above the heart area in order to reduce the flow of lymph and blood, and reduce pain.
	Offer plenty of fluids. Water, tea or weak coffee, reduce the concentration of poison, provide the fastest removal of toxins from the body.
	Give an antihistamine - Cetrin or Loratadine.
	With a strong allergic reaction, you can give the glucocorticoids Prednisolone (1-2 tablets) to drink, or Dexamethasone. The drugs have anti-inflammatory, desensitizing, anti-shock and antitoxic properties.
	Help with pain in the heart, heart attack. It is necessary to give the cardiac drug Cordiamin from the medicine cabinet.
	When the heart and breathing stop, it is necessary to perform a heart massage (indirect), to make artificial respiration.
	Take the victim to the nearest medical facility.

Poison is a protein substance that can cause an allergic reaction, so the use of antihistamines is mandatory. If the reaction is strong, you can enter an antihistamine intramuscularly.

The patient needs qualified health care- administration of serum, manipulations to prevent complications. Specific help depends on the type of snake that stung the person.

What not to do when bitten by a snake

Caution: Even if the pain from a bite does not seem very strong, it is not recommended to be treated at home - serious complications can develop.

The video in this article shows what to do if you are bitten by a viper and how the first first aid and medical care is provided for a snake bite.

First aid kit

To better provide first aid, to quickly remove the poison from the wound, travelers, tourists, as well as everyone can purchase the "First Aid Kit". In the small box set:

1. Instructions for use.
2. Manual, easy to use with one hand, venom removal pump.
3. Several attachments that can be used not only for snake bites, but also poisonous insects, arachnids.
4. Hair shaving machine at the site of the bite.
5. Alcohol wipe for wound disinfection.
6. Pain-relieving napkin (with analgesic solution).
7. Razor for hair removal in the wound area.
8. Adhesive plaster to protect the wound from infection.

The suction of the poison with the help of the extractor occurs under the action of a vacuum.

A brief introduction to the poisonous representatives of the Snake suborder

Snakes, meeting with which is undesirable for humans:

• subfamily Pitheads - muzzle, rattlesnakes;
• subfamily Real vipers - gyurza, sand efa, viper;
• subfamily Aspidovye - cobra, mamba.

common viper

On the territory of the Russian Federation, there is a high probability of meeting a person with common viper and honeydew.

Copperhead is a relative of snakes, it is easy to recognize it by its yellow or red iris, round pupil. The venom of the copperfish is not dangerous for humans. But at the same time, there is a possibility of infection of the bite site with the remnants of rotting food on the teeth of the snake.

Copperhead. Its venom is not lethal, but treatment of the wound from infection is required.

How to identify a venomous snake.

To determine which snake bit a person - poisonous or not, you need to know what the bite looks like on the human body - this will help you competently provide emergency care to yourself or another victim.

Snake bites can be distinguished by the trace left on the body of the victim:

1. A venomous snake leaves marks of two larger venom-secreting teeth and a chain of smaller, non-venomous teeth.
2. The bites of non-poisonous representatives leave four longitudinal rows of small wounds from the teeth.

About the antidote

As they say: you need to know "friends" in person. For what? In order for the doctor to provide specific assistance after a snakebite:

• enter the desired antidote - serum against snake venom;
• carry out detoxification therapy.

Important: Bite antidote (serum) is not a vaccine, often causes a severe allergic reaction that can cost your life. Therefore, you should not enter it yourself, especially if you do not have medical education and drugs for anaphylactic shock.

It is a common thing when people do not understand poisonous snakes. Therefore, most likely you cannot know for sure: a poisonous snake has bitten or not, and how poisonous it is. Therefore, emergency care for a snakebite should be provided in any case. It is not necessary to wait for symptoms to appear, it is necessary to take the victim to the hospital as soon as possible.

AT last years cases of poisoning with snake venom have become significantly more frequent, which is associated not only with the growth of tourism, the mass exodus of the population abroad, the departure of children for a summer health campaign, but also with the significant appearance on the pharmacy market of drugs containing snake venom.

Therefore, all poisoning with snake venom can be conditionally divided into two large groups:

1. Poisoning with snake venom as a result of a snake bite;
2. Poisoning by snake venom as a result of misuse medical preparations containing this poison.

Poisoning with snake venom is the cause of acutely developing intoxication, requiring urgent and sometimes resuscitation measures.

The poisons of all snakes are usually divided into:

• Neurotoxic, causing a violation of the transmission of nerve impulses from the motor nerves to the muscle;
• Hemotoxic, having the ability to hemolyze (glue) red blood cells, disrupt blood clotting, increase vascular permeability.

The lethal outcome is often preceded by the development of vascular insufficiency associated with a pronounced decrease in circulating blood volume, as well as loss of blood plasma as a result of increased capillary permeability.

Poisoning by snake venom

Quite common, especially in summer period. While on a hike or on a picnic, we often forget elementary rules safe behavior in this situation. Most often, the victims of such careless behavior are children who try to "play" with the snake, put it in a glass jar, or simply approach as close as possible. This is regarded by the snake as a signal to attack, as a result of which an attack and a bite occur.

So, if you or your child is bitten by a snake, don't panic. Soberly and calmly assess the situation. If there is no pain, swelling, signs of damage at the bite site nervous system (headache, heartbeat, shortness of breath, etc.), then most likely this snake is not poisonous.

Continue to monitor the victim, in any case, call an ambulance. If possible, save the snake for further examination, observing the rules of your own safety.

The bite of a venomous snake is most often accompanied by:

1. Local reactions:

• The presence of bite marks in the form of two triangular wounds;
• Severe pain;
• Intensive edema, rapidly spreading over a large area and reaching its maximum development by the end of the first hour after the bite. In the area of ​​edema, the skin has a blue-purple color.

1. Signs of a resorptive lesion:

• headache;
• nausea;
• speech disorder;
• Thirst;
• Tachycardia, up to a thready pulse;
• A sharp decrease in blood pressure;
• muscle weakness;
• A state of depression and anxiety;
• Violation of the act of swallowing;
• "Double vision";
• Numbness of the body, especially at the site of the bite;
• Seizures may occur.

1. Physiological disorders:

• Increased capillary permeability;
• Hemolysis of blood, a decrease in its coagulability;
• Hematuria;
• Renal and liver failure;
• oliguria;

Death can occur as a result of progressive collapse and respiratory paralysis (from 20 minutes to 1 day or more).

So, what factors influence the severity of the consequences if you are bitten by a poisonous snake.

For the victim:

• Age (children and the elderly are most at risk).
• Body mass. How smaller size body, the higher the likelihood of death, due to the faster spread of the poison throughout the body.
• General health. The presence of somatic or chronic diseases, especially diseases of the heart and blood.
• Behavior of the victim. The more intensively the victim moves, the more intensively the poison will spread through the systemic circulation.

For the snake:

• Type of snake, its age and size, as well as the intensity of its fright. Young vipers are less dangerous. The most dangerous are cobras, rattlesnakes, gyurza.
• Condition of the teeth. There are pathogenic microorganisms in the snake's mouth, therefore, sometimes intoxication is complicated by the development of tetanus, gangrene, and purulent-necrotic processes.

Same way great importance there is a localization of the bite. When the lower extremities are affected, the symptoms do not develop as intensely as with bites to the neck or face, where large blood vessels are located. AT uh In that case, the poison will spread rapidly.

What to do

• Reassure the victim;
• Call an ambulance;
• Give the body a horizontal position, forbid moving and talking;
• If the snake is fixed at the site of the bite, it must be carefully removed, killed, then put in a separate container for further examination by specialists;
• Release the victim from restrictive clothing and jewelry;
• Immobilize the limb with improvised materials (boards, branches) with fixation of the adjacent joint. In the absence of improvised means, immobilization is carried out to a healthy limb or to the body.
• Treat the bite site with peroxide. Apply a bandage slightly above the bite or any clean piece of tissue (one finger freely goes under the bandage);
• Let the person drink as much liquid as possible;
• Drink a pill of suprastin, tavegil, zirtek, zodak. (antiallergic drugs)
• In case of cardiac arrest or no breathing, begin artificial respiration or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Help with a snake bite

What Not to Do

REMEMBER!!! Do not cut (cauterize) the wound. Do not suck out the contents of the wound. Do not apply a tourniquet. Wait for the arrival of the doctor.

In extreme cases, if the victim is in the forest, and waiting for help for more than two hours, the contents of the wound can be sucked out with a rubber pear for 30-60 minutes.

What not to do

Prevention

Long trousers, high boots or boots should be worn in areas where snakes are present. It is very important to be cautious and attentive, to look under your feet. The snake has no hearing. She feels with receptors. Therefore, when a snake appears, you should not freeze, but rather rustle loudly or stomp your feet in order to the snake, sensing danger, quickly crawled away. You should not even play with very small and "harmless" snakes, lure them into jars, wind them on sticks, tease the snake. Should be carried with you sharp knife or a long stick when hiking in the forest or mountains, as well as a bandage for bandaging, peroxide or chlorhexidine, a suction bulb, antihistamines.

Poisoning with snake venom as a result of improper use of medicines containing this poison.

AT recent times a significant number of drugs containing snake venom (viprosal, vipraksin, etc.) used as painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs appeared on the pharmacy shelves. In therapeutic doses, snake venom preparations are not dangerous. But cases of poisoning are also known when these drugs are absorbed into the blood through damaged skin.

Rubbing and compresses of snake venom preparations, for example on lower limbs, can give a sharp swelling that spreads to the buttock, inguinal folds, genitals, and sometimes to the abdomen. It can also worsen your general well-being. There is a headache, weakness, nausea, palpitations and other symptoms described above.

If you find such symptoms in yourself, you should stop exposure to the ointment by wiping the remnants with a napkin. It is necessary to seek help from a medical institution as soon as possible. Before the arrival of the doctor, you should drink as much simple as possible. pure water(up to 5 liters), take a pill of suprastin, tavegil, zodak, zirtek, diphenhydramine, lie down on the sofa.