How to Save a Life - bites from snakes and spiders
It is important that you understand the way to protect yourself if you
or a loved one is bitten by a snake or other animal. If you have been
bitten by a snake, it is important that you act immediately. You must
tie a tourniquet or other object above the snake bite. At the area of
the bite, you will want to make a small cross cut. This will cause some
blood loss and will help the poison to slowly drain out.
Without delay, ice should be used very quickly. The area that was bitten
should be applied an ice pack. The reason for this is because the poison
will be detoxified by the freezing process. If it is possible the snake
bite victim should be given Decdan. A 5% dextrose solution should be
given intravenously if it is possible to do so. The victim should also
be given tetanus toxoid to help prevent infection from occurring. It is
very important to do this, regardless of the type of bite the victim has
suffered from.
After about every 30 minutes, you will also want to release the
tourniquet. This is to allow blood to flow below where the tourniquet
has been applied. Even though rel;easing the tourniquet can potentially
release some of the poison and allow it to flow to to other areas of the
body, this still must be done. Otherwise, the limb below the area where
the tourniquet was applied will be affected negatively. Some people
mistakenly leave the tourniquet on for long periods of time, even days.
Then the appendage below where the area where the tourniquet had been
applied starts to show signs of gangrene and deteriorating because of
the lack of blood flow. If that happens, the only thing that can be done
is to remove that part of the limb.
If a person is bitten by a poisonous snake, that person will show
certain signs of poisoning. This will require that the person receive
medical attention. |
