Snake Bites

Overview

 It's important to get all snake bites checked as soon as possible.

Bites from sharp, pointed teeth can cause deep puncture wounds, leading to tissue damage and allowing germs to enter the skin. Any bite that breaks the skin needs treatment to reduce the risk of infection.

This page is about snake bites. There's a separate page about.

Immediate First Aid Steps 

If you've been bitten by a snake, there are things you can do while you're waiting for medical help:

Do:

• stay calm 
• keep the part of your body that was bitten as still as you can
• lie in the recovery position if you can
• take paracetamol for any pain
• try to remember the colour and pattern of the snake to tell the doctor
• take off any jewellery and loosen clothes near the bite, in case the skin swells

Don’t:

• do not go near the snake, or try to catch or kill it
• do not try to suck or cut the poison (venom) out of the bite
• do not tie anything tightly round the part of the body where the bite is
• do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, as they can make bleeding worse

When To Seek Medical Help

Call an ambulance or seek immediate medical help (e.g. Emergency Department) if:

• you think you, or someone else, has been bitten by a snake

Treatment

You'll usually need to stay in hospital for at least 24 hours if you've been bitten by a snake.

The bite will be cleaned and bandaged. You may be given an injection to help protect you from tetanus.

If you were bitten by a poisonous (venomous) snake you'll be treated with a medicine to fight the venom. This is given through a thin tube into a vein, called a drip.