Quickly and calmly: first you need to make sure that the snake really bitten, and what kind of snake it was. Bite poisonous snake looks like two (or one) puncture points on the skin.

Snake venom is a biologically active compound with a very wide spectrum of action. Hyaluronidase, an enzyme contained in the venom of any snake, has a destructive effect. Its goal is to destroy mucopolysaccharides, a kind of cement that holds living cells together. Disruption of intercellular connections makes the tissue permeable and opens the way for other components of the poison. The poison is able to penetrate cells through their membranes, affecting the most important systems of the body. In addition, snake venom increases tissue permeability, which facilitates its rapid spread from the bitten area. Thus, the application of constrictions above the bite site, incisions, cauterization and other measures that have taken root among the population are useless. Despite the application of tight constrictions, which contribute to the formation of large areas of dead tissue, it is not possible to prevent the spread of the poison - severe poisoning develops.

Symptoms of a poisonous snake bite

At the first moment, severe pain is felt at the site of the bite. It can be difficult to notice a quickly escaping snake. A bite is indicated by two small red dots (sometimes just one if the snake has a broken tooth or the bite was caused by a side blow). Soon a purplish or bluish hemorrhage develops, turning into more or less pronounced swelling. may appear later headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision (double vision). If you are sure that it was a poisonous snake, you need to provide first aid for a snake bite.

The person who has been bitten must be laid down and ensure that he lies still; any movement will accelerate the spread of poison in the body and, accordingly, worsen the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

Then you need to see if there are traces of poison. It is not so rare that a snake’s attack is unsuccessful and a lot of venom (or even all the venom) remains either on the bitten clothing or on the skin. Therefore, you should try to avoid a reflexive attempt to clamp the bitten area with your hand. Snake venom is only dangerous when it enters the bloodstream. By pinching the bitten area, you can press poison from clothing or skin into the wound. If there is poison on the skin, it must be removed immediately so that it does not get into the wound. What

First of all, try to suck out the poison from the wound as soon as possible, constantly spitting out the sucked liquid, and also rinse the mouth (15 minutes). Suctioning out the venom from a snake bite is one of the main emergency measures. This is not dangerous for the person who is sucking the poison (except if he has open wounds in his mouth and the poison can get into the blood). If you are not sure about the integrity of the oral cavity, you can come up with a special device for suctioning blood - place a small jar at the site of the bite for 1 minute. But this method is only effective if you use it within one or two seconds from the moment of the bite, but the resulting shock and state of stupor or panic will take away these precious crumbs of time. Attempts to suck out the venom are usually pointless due to the tight closure of the edges of the wound (due to the elasticity of the tissues) and the rapid spread of the venom (snake venom increases the permeability of tissues, and this factor contributes to its rapid spread from the bitten area). And also because the depth of the bite is great and the poison cannot be sucked out. After all, the length of a snake’s poisonous teeth sometimes reaches more than a centimeter.

The bitten limb should lie motionless, and the victim himself should be in a supine, calm position, so that the blood in the body circulates as slowly as possible. The spread of the poison occurs mainly through the lymphatic vessels and is enhanced by muscle contractions. This means that you need to immobilize the bitten limb, as with fractures (the two-joint rule, that is, fix the 2 joints closest to the bite). Ideally, the victim himself should be immobilized.

It is useful to drink a diuretic (lingonberry, cranberry) so that part of the poison leaves the body naturally. If you don't have a diuretic, just drink plenty of water. It is better to abstain from coffee and tea, as they have a stimulating effect on the heart. Alcohol makes it difficult to remove poison from the body, so it is better not to drink alcohol at all.

Call an ambulance, or try to take the victim to the hospital yourself, where he will be given an injection of Anti-Viper serum.

If the nearest settlement is too far away and medical assistance is not expected, ask all your neighbors; often someone may keep ampoules of serum in the refrigerator “just in case.”

If you have this snakebite serum on your hands, then know that it is administered and 25-30 minutes after taking prednisolone tablets (5-10 mg 1-2 tablets), 500 - 1000 AE (1-2 tablets) are injected subcutaneously into the interscapular area. 2 ampoules) of medicinal anti-snake serum.

There is one point in using serums. It is administered fractionally, starting with 0.1 ml, and preferably in a hospital. A contraindication to the administration of anti-snake serum is the development of anaphylactic shock when 0.1-0.25 ml of serum is administered - due to an allergy to horse protein.
As in all other cases, antidote therapy is the most effective. If the victim in the most short time introduce a specific serum, the action of which is aimed at the venom of a specific viper, he will get off with only a slight fright. Among the “viper” serums on the territory of the Russian Federation, there are Antiviper, Antigyurza and Antiefa. The second and third are becoming less common. Because with the loss of the Russian Federation Central Asia As the region of residence of the viper and efa, the relevance of serums against their poison for Russians is also lost.

What not to do if you are bitten by a snake

Never apply a tourniquet to the bitten limb. Remember that the poison is necrotizing, and if tied with a tourniquet, localized in one place, it can cause necrosis of that limb, which can ultimately lead to amputation.

Cauterizing the bite site is ineffective because it penetrates into the tissue, and superficial cauterization is not capable of destroying it. And at the site of cauterization, a scab forms, under which suppuration begins.

Making cuts and notches on the bitten areas is also pointless and harmful. Even if we do not take into account the speed of application of the poison, the release of 10-15 ml of blood is unlikely to lead to the removal of snake venom, not to mention the development of long-term non-healing wounds or infection at the site of the cut.

Viper bite

Snake size. Vipers usually reach a length of 50 - 75 cm. The larger the snake, the larger its poisonous glands, the greater the amount of poison released. Size and weight of the victim. Thus, a dog and a child are more sensitive to the effects of poison than an adult, due to the faster and more complete absorption of the poison in the body of the victim with a small volume and mass.

The amount of poison released. The viper attacks only living targets, mainly mice, voles, and sometimes moles and lizards. She hunts from ambush, waiting for the prey to approach and biting it with lightning speed. Then he calmly awaits the action of the poison. Small animals die, usually not having time to move more than a few meters away. The snake swallows prey from the head, whole, thanks to its sliding jaws. It should be noted that the snake spends its venom very sparingly, trying to preserve its reserve whenever possible. Some bites may be harmless to humans and do not require any treatment. Such bites are called “dry”. However, without being able to determine “on the spot” the amount of injected poison, it is necessary to take immediate measures after any snake bite.

The victim's health status. People or animals suffering from heart ailments, tired dogs can fall into a state of shock, often aggravated by panic and rapid heartbeat, which accelerate the spread of poison throughout the body.

Bite site. Usually these are the hands of people and the paws of dogs. A hunter who places a gun on the ground, makes a resting place, or lifts a stone to build a fireplace always runs the risk of being bitten, especially in rocky areas and bushes. Dogs, being lighter, cause less strong shaking of the ground when moving, than they can take a snake by surprise by approaching it too close. A dog approaching a viper may be bitten in the face, nose or tongue, which often causes rapid death due to swelling of the respiratory tract.

The reaction of the victim, his environment and the speed of assistance. Thus, a person who does not panic and remains calm, who tries to gain time by saving movements and takes all measures to quickly transport him to the nearest hospital, will slow down the absorption of the poison and significantly reduce the complications of the bite. A dog bitten by a snake should be carried in your arms to avoid any acceleration of blood circulation, but in a car it should be kept motionless.

How to protect yourself from a snake bite?

Carefully mow the grass in front of your country house/village. Snakes don't like it when the grass doesn't hide them.

When traveling through dangerous areas, it is necessary to wear high boots and trousers that do not fit tightly around the legs. If you have boots on your feet, tuck your trousers into them slouchily. Thick woolen socks also protect against snake bites. Unlike the cobra, the viper cannot perform high throws, its maximum is shin, so high boots/trousers are a surefire defense.

Take a long staff to push the thickets apart. In the mountains, before examining the crevices in the rocks with your hands, you need to use a stick to check for poisonous snakes.

Make noise while walking through the forest, and when the snake hears your steps, it will crawl away, and you won’t even know that it was nearby.

It is better to stay overnight on a hill with sparse and low vegetation, away from various holes, rocks and glacial boulders.

Do not leave tents open at the bottom; before getting into your sleeping bag, check to see if there are any vipers warming up there.

Poisonous snakes of Russia

Common viper, steppe viper, Nikolsky viper, Caucasian viper

May this year pleases with almost summer heat, but it also has back side: In the Moscow region, two cases of snake bites have already been recorded. These reptiles became more active as the weather warmed up, and city dwellers going for walks through forests and fields should be very careful. Read the material about precautions and what to do if a snake does bite you.

Poisonous viper

According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Moscow Region, only two types of snakes live in the Moscow region: the non-venomous and harmless common snake ( Natrix natrix) And poisonous viper common (Vipera berus).

“The statement that vipers live next to us is true, but not everyone can boast of meeting them. Even avid mushroom pickers have not seen them all. The explanation lies not only in the secrecy and caution of the snakes themselves, but also in the fact that for common viper characterized by focal distribution. That is, relatively dense populations are separated by large areas where snakes are absent. This is due to the availability of places for wintering. Because of this feature, you can live several kilometers from the fire and never encounter a snake. Or vice versa: go into the forest once and find about a dozen individuals per 100 meters of the route,” says the website of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Moscow Region.

Where are snakes found?

Snakes are reptiles, they do not have their own thermoregulation, so they need warm and sunny places to “warm up” to the desired temperature. This determines their habitat: marshy areas next to open glades, forests and groves with edges where snakes can bask in the sun.

It happens that snakes crawl to human habitation. To avoid this, you need to keep land plot in order: do not clutter it with leftover building materials and piles of boards, which can become a refuge for vipers.

How to avoid a viper bite

GIPHY website

Vipers feed mainly on rodents, chicks and small birds, frogs and lizards. For small animals, the viper's venom is fatal.

“Since a person is not within the viper’s sphere of food interests, there is no point in attacking him, just like an elk, wolf or badger. And talk about natural malice and hatred of people should be classified as delirium,” notes the website of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Moscow Region.

Vipers are very cautious and do not at all strive to meet a person. Most often, a person passes by a lurking reptile without even suspecting its presence.

A viper will bite only if it regards a person’s actions as an attack: for example, he stepped on the snake or tried to grab it with his hand.

It is quite easy to protect yourself from a snake bite - thick closed shoes and wide, tight pants will protect your feet. Snakes cannot jump high, 20 centimeters is their limit. To avoid hurting your hands, simply do not touch the viper, do not try to throw it away - this will provoke an attack. You should not bend over to the snake, squat down next to it and try to take a closer look.

If you do not attack first and do not provoke the snake in any way, it will hiss and crawl away.

Why is viper venom dangerous?

The snake bites instantly and immediately tries to hide. Two points remain at the site of the bite, less often one - if the snake has a broken tooth or the bite is lateral.

Viper venom is of the hemotoxic type, that is, it has a hemolytic effect - it destroys red blood cells. In addition, it contains a neurotoxin that affects the cardiovascular system.

“When bitten, the following symptoms develop: pain, swelling and multiple hemorrhages in the bite area. In addition, internal hemorrhages occur in various organs of the body, and vascular thrombosis appears. At the site of the bite, two deep wounds from poisonous teeth remain (sometimes there is only one wound). The blood in these wounds quickly bakes, and there is almost no bleeding from them; the surrounding tissues swell and turn blue. If the hand is affected, then after half an hour the fingers stop bending due to very painful swelling, which can spread all the way to the elbow,” says the website of Rospotrebnadzor for the Moscow region.

The victim may feel sick, body temperature rises, and chills appear. Dizziness and vomiting occur as damage occurs circulatory system, accompanied by internal blood loss and a sharp drop in blood pressure. This causes severe weakness, and severe cases and loss of consciousness. The bite of a viper is most dangerous in the spring, but in the summer its poison weakens.

According to the region's Ministry of Emergency Situations, a bite from a common viper is normally not fatal. At the same time, you need to understand that a snake bite is more dangerous for a child than for an adult who does not suffer from allergies. The same is true for older people and people weakened after illness.

What to do if bitten by a snake

The first thing you need to do is call an ambulance. Inept actions can harm the victim more than the venom of a viper.

“To slow down the spread of the poison before the doctors arrive, you need to apply a tourniquet to the affected limb (you should only resort to this if you know how to do this), and then bandage it tightly along its entire length. Immediately after this, the tourniquet should be removed. This will slow down the blood flow in the bitten limb. The blood will perform its function: nourish the tissues with oxygen, but the poison will not penetrate far beyond the bite site. For the same purpose, it is very important to immobilize the bitten limb. The victim should be given as much to drink as possible - clean water,” advises the instructor-methodologist training center“First Aid” Stas Zhuravsky.

He adds that if this is your first experience with first aid, do not use a tourniquet. Its inept use in case of a viper bite can lead to necrosis and even gangrene.

If possible, you should carefully treat the wounds with antiseptics: chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide. The affected limb will swell, so you need to remove all rings, watches, and bracelets from it in advance.

What not to do if bitten

The most common advice for a snake bite - to suck out the venom from the wound - is at the same time the most controversial. The poison spreads very quickly from the bite site, and there is no point in sucking it out, especially after some time. But an infection can be brought into the wound. In addition, there are often small and invisible wounds in the mouth - which means there is a possibility that the poison will harm the person providing assistance.

Also, you should not try to squeeze out the poison - this will only accelerate its spread throughout the body and further injure the tissues already affected by the poison.

“Under no circumstances should you cauterize the bite site, wash it with a solution of potassium permanganate, make cuts, or drink alcohol internally. All this can only do harm. The victim can be given painkillers and allergy medications,” advises Zhuravsky.

Seeking medical help

Website of the city of Korolev

Most often, a snake bite is not fatal to humans. However, the poison has Negative influence to work internal organs and may cause a severe allergic reaction.

If you are bitten by a snake, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Doctors use a special serum, the components of which neutralize the snake’s venom. The serum can be purchased independently, but for a person without experience and medical education It is dangerous to administer it to the victim, since there is a special scheme and monitoring of the patient’s condition is necessary.

“The serum does not act instantly; it may take several hours for the condition to ease. It is likely that, in addition to the serum, other medications will be required to correct the symptoms that the poison has already caused. With timely treatment, after 5-6 days, and often even earlier, all unpleasant sensations will completely disappear,” concludes the website of Rospotrebnadzor for the Moscow Region.

Fifty grams of vodka inside will help against a reptile bite, but not sucking the poison out

Summer residents and tourists venturing into the forests near Moscow are trumpeting: “There are more snakes,” “The reptiles are literally swarming under our feet,” “We are afraid to let children and dogs into the forest.”

Has the population of poisonous snakes really increased in the Moscow region? What can provoke their aggression? What to do if the snake does bite? In what cases can death occur? - we asked the scientist-naturalist, the most famous snake catcher in the country, a former venom extractor in the serpentarium, Alexander Ognev, and the leading herpetologist of the Moscow Zoo, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences Dmitry Vasilyev.

Usually, encounters with vipers occur at the interface between environments: a swamp - the edge of a forest, a mowed part under a power line - the edge of a forest, garbage in a summer cottage - a vegetable garden. Photo from personal archive.

“The snake is smooth, the viper is velvet”

Alexander Ognev has just returned from the upper reaches of the Volga. On the border of the Moscow and Tver regions, he caught frogs for his pet snakes. His apartment has been reminiscent of a real zoo for four decades now. One room is completely dedicated to enclosures, terrariums, and aquariums. There are about 70 snakes alone. He is especially proud of non-venomous snakes, which with their “shirts” disguise themselves as poisonous ones. While I was getting frogs for my pet snakes, I also caught a couple of vipers for the Moscow Zoo.

“My vision is no longer good, but I feel snakes intuitively,” says the herpetologist. “We caught those who hissed and gave themselves away.” I probably missed another 30 or so that were silent. Now it is no longer the season for catching, the grass has grown, the snakes, having warmed up in the sun, run away quickly.

— What poisonous snakes are found in Moscow and the Moscow region? Who should we be afraid of?- I ask the naturalist.

— The only poisonous snake that lives in the Moscow region is the common viper. It is also called fire viper and marsh viper,” says Alexander Ognev. — Among all the snakes in the world, it has the most extensive range - the area of ​​distribution: from Great Britain and northern Spain to Lake Baikal. Most of the range is in Russia. We can say that this is the most “Russian snake”. The common viper can also be found in Siberia. The rivers there flow from south to north and are a carrier of heat.

— Can a viper be confused with any of the non-venomous snakes?

“In the same territory, perhaps a little to the south, there lives an ordinary one. It is black or dark gray. At the base of its head it has two spots - yellow, gray, white, orange or pink flowers. There may be snakes without spots. Sometimes they are such a dark gray color that the spots blend into the general background and are not visible. The grass snake has smoother scales, so it shines in the sun. And the viper is like velvet, it has a comb on every scale.

The grass snake is a fast-moving snake; when in danger, it curls up into a tight ball and hisses. If he sees that the danger has not passed, he can pretend to be dead. At the same time, it emits a terrible odor reminiscent of garlic. For this purpose it has special anal glands.

“Vipers and snakes prefer different biotopes - habitats, vipers - the edges of swamps and clearings, and areas near rivers and lakes,” says Dmitry Vasiliev, in turn.

- What about the copperhead?

— This snake belongs to the family of colubrids. It is not dangerous for humans,” explains Alexander Ognev. — The place closest to our strip, where it is very rarely found, is the south of the Tula region. The copperhead lives in the mountains and steppes. Its diet is based on fast lizards. Unlike the viviparous lizard, which lives everywhere in our Moscow region, the sand lizard incubates its eggs in the sand, and therefore gravitates to forest-steppe and steppe zones.

- You can say that last years Has the population of snakes in the Moscow region increased?

— On the contrary, there are fewer and fewer snakes in the Moscow region. These are people who are “creeping away”. More and more so-called inconvenient land is being distributed for summer cottages - land unsuitable for agricultural work. These are tall, mixed forests, sphagnum swamps are exactly the places where vipers live. They simply have nowhere to go, which is why they catch people’s eyes more often. And the snake population is decreasing. Roads are being built, construction is actively underway, forests are being cut down, thereby reducing the places suitable for wintering snakes.

— What places should you avoid to avoid encountering a viper?

— In the spring they are close to their wintering areas. And wintering grounds for vipers can be quite widespread. For example, Nikolsky’s vipers overwinter in numbers of 2 thousand,” says Dmitry Vasiliev. - Thus, in the spring there can be a lot of snakes in a small clearing. And then, after molting and mating, they spread out. According to research, females usually migrate close, up to 800 meters, and males can crawl up to 11 kilometers. In the fall, they crawl to the places where they spent the previous winter.

In spring, when there is little sun, vipers can be found in some open places. And in summer they can be seen early in the morning and in the evening. Usually, encounters take place at the interface between environments: a swamp - the edge of a forest, a mowed part under a power line - the edge of a forest, garbage on a summer cottage - a vegetable garden. Vipers do not just like forests or open fields; they are there only as migrants. But the permanent places where they spend the night are associated with shelters; these should be shaded places where they can hide - holes, heaps of branches, and so on.

- So there are no vipers in the dense forest?

“They need to be able to warm up somewhere in the open.” If this is a forest, then there should be a clearing nearby.

— What are the most “snake” areas of the Moscow region?

“These are the Savelovskoe and Volokolamsk directions,” says Alexander Ognev. — Near Volokolamsk the viper has now been practically knocked out; near Dmitrov and Iksha they still remain. A sufficient number of outbreaks have been preserved in the area of ​​Taldom and Dubna.

- I will agree. Traditionally, there are a lot of snakes in the Savelovsky direction, near Konakovo and Verbilki,” says Dmitry Vasiliev. — Also in the Shatursky direction, in the Dmitrovsky district. At one time, between the “119th kilometer” and “Temp” platforms, I caught 40 vipers in half an hour.

- Is it true that the viper does not attack a person first?

— First of all, I would like to note that Russia has a very safe environment. It greatly discourages our compatriots,” notes Alexander Ognev. “That’s why I’m not at all surprised that in Cambodia only Russian tourists are pricked with sea urchins, because not a single European would think of stepping on one.” sea ​​urchin. Or stick your fingers into the crevices of the coral to see if a moray eel is hiding there. A huge number of dangerous animals live further south. Take Turkey, where there are not only poisonous snakes, but also poisonous spiders, fish, jellyfish. In central Russia, one should take it as a common rule: do not go into the forest barefoot or in shorts. And the worst thing there is not a viper, but a tick, which can give you a whole bunch of diseases. And the mortality rate from the viper is very low. She doesn't chase people, she never attacks herself. This is a rather cowardly creature; in case of danger, it will try to run away. The only thing is, if you come across a pregnant female, it will be difficult for her to quickly disappear, she will curl up into a ball, begin to hiss and defend herself. What are our people doing? They start hitting her in the face with a slipper, and the snake, accordingly, bites their leg. Then they say, “A snake attacked me.” In fact, they were the ones who attacked the viper.

I know several places in the Moscow region where local residents and vipers coexist perfectly. Snakes have their own “patch”, they do not leave this territory, there is an excellent food supply there, full of rodents and frogs. And the villagers, accordingly, do not interfere in their snake “state” and do not disturb the reptiles.

You have to be careful when picking berries and mushrooms. Before you step into the grass, move a stick across it. But there is no need to hit the bush with a stick. There were many cases when mushroom pickers accidentally picked up a snake, lifted it with a stick to their face, then were horrified: “A viper jumped on me.” She can't jump 1.5 meters! The viper can throw upward a maximum of 10-15 centimeters. Sneakers, high boots or boots can serve as protection. The snake does not bite through them; the length of its teeth is 4-5 millimeters.

- If a viper sees a person, it will follow him. Before he steps on her, she will make her presence known by hissing,” says Dmitry Vasiliev, in turn. - If the viper is heated, you won’t even see it, it will run away so quickly, it will only rustle the grass. Bites occur when people try to play with the viper, pick it up, or accidentally step on it or sit on it.

— At what time of day are snakes active?

“They usually go out half an hour before dawn and take positions where they can bask in the sun. “They sunbathe” until 9 am, and when they warm up, they go into hiding, says Alexander Ognev. — A snake can be seen during the day. These are so-called fattening snakes that are in search of food. The second peak of snake activity begins after four o'clock in the afternoon and lasts until sunset. My latest discovery of a viper was around 10 p.m.

“No tourniquets or immobility: let the poison dissipate”

— What to do if the viper does bite?

- Firstly, when you go into the forest, you must remember that you are the enemy there and that you are going into someone else’s territory. And you need to dress appropriately. Secondly, you need to put at least suprastin in your pocket. The fact is that the danger from a bite, according to my observations, is largely due to an allergic reaction to the poison. The poison is protein, and different people they react to it differently. Death is usually associated with anaphylaxis. Swelling of the mucous membranes of the mouth and nasopharynx can develop within 2 minutes - and the person dies.

I don’t have any allergies to viper venom; some of my snake-catching friends had swelling in their face and nasopharynx, and some had difficulty breathing. To avoid this, you need to take some kind of antihistamine with you to the forest: tavegil, claritin, cetrin, pipolfen. For example, I always had diphenhydramine with me. This medicine, in addition to everything, also has a powerful sedative effect - it relaxes and relieves pain, which is important when bitten by a snake.

If you not Small child, but as an adult or teenager, a viper bite is unlikely to be fatal for you. Yes, it hurts, you will get sick. Teenagers or women can spend a week in bed. Men, being more massive creatures, cope with a viper bite in three to four days.

(Alexander Ognev knows what he’s talking about. 91 times they glared at him poisonous teeth. 20 years of work in the serpentarium had an effect. Plus, when catching, the herpetologist was approached by: green rattlesnake, cottonmouth, steppe viper, Caucasian viper, common viper, bamboo keffiyeh, etc.)

— How correctly do those who try to suck out the poison from a wound act?

“It has more of a psychological effect.” It’s not a bad lesson, but don’t forget about placebo (from the Latin placebo, a substance without obvious medicinal properties, used as a medicine, the therapeutic effect of which is associated with the patient’s belief in the effectiveness of the drug. - Author). Of course, you won’t suck out any poison there, but your mouth has occupied itself with something and is already distracted from the perception of the bite. We have to hear a warning - the main thing is that there are no wounds or caries in the mouth. All this is nonsense! I remember how a colleague of mine, who was present at a performance by visiting guest performers in Sochi, volunteered to drink snake venom that he had drunk right on stage. Everyone around, including the fakir, was speechless. And Igorek, a professional with a capital P, knew well that poison only works if it gets into the blood. Even if there are sores or cuts in the mouth, it is difficult to imagine the rapid absorption of protein into the body. Viper venom is not an ointment that is absorbed into the skin.

“In the French Legion, for example, soldiers are given a special locking syringe with which they can suck out snake venom,” says Dmitry Vasiliev. - It is believed that in this way it is possible to remove somewhere around 10-15% of the poison. But it should be noted that snake venom contains a special enzyme - hyaluronidase, which instantly removes the venom from the bite point. And it is better not to do any traumatic effects, in particular cuts, treatment with some chemical agents such as potassium permanganate. Because of all this, you can subsequently limp for the rest of your life, lose a finger, and so on.

— Someone tries to apply a tourniquet when bitten by a snake. This is right?

- There is no need to do this. It’s just better if the poison disperses throughout the body,” says Alexander Ognev. “It’s bullshit that the poison can be stopped somewhere.” One of the enzymes contained in viper venom causes tissue necrosis. If you apply a tourniquet, the likelihood of necrosis increases, gangrene begins - and you will have to amputate the part on which you applied the tourniquet. Any intoxication is measured in milligrams of poison per kilogram of weight of the bitten person. I believe that when a snake bites you, the whole body should “work”, and not the part where the snake bit you. Let the poison dissipate. General poisoning will be more noticeable, but overall it will pass much faster and easier. I had a record of four hours.

When bitten by a snake, most guides advise staying still. I did the opposite. Firstly, I drank alcohol, alcohol has a wonderful property, it works as a vasodilator. Secondly, I kept moving. A snake bit me left hand, I worked intensively with a brush, the same way when blood is taken from a person’s vein. My hand swelled very quickly and I began to feel dizzy. After two hours, severe itching began, and this is usually a signal that the poisoning has ended and the body has begun to fight. After 4 hours the swelling began to subside.

- You definitely need to keep this in mind when you sleep. On the first night after a bite, many people cannot sleep due to severe pain. Most often, a snake bites a person on the hand. It swells so much that it hurts even to touch it. At night, you need to build a pyramid out of pillows and place the bitten hand 15-20 centimeters above the heart; if it is lower, it will be much more painful due to the rush of lymph and blood.

— When bitten by a snake, do you need to drink more fluid?

- This is true. I went through various options, watermelon came first, followed by beer and coffee. All of them have good diuretic properties. If you are in the forest, make tea and throw in a handful of lingonberry leaves. Lingonberries also have a pronounced diuretic property. The fact is that poison is eliminated from the body only through the kidneys. Therefore, we need to write, write and write again. And for this you need to constantly refill your body with water.

— Why do they say: if you are bitten by a snake, never drink alcohol?

“Our people, for the most part, don’t know how to drink alcohol in small portions, and after drinking a fair amount of it, they lose touch with reality and become disoriented. For myself, empirically, I found the right dose, this is 50-70 grams of vodka. No more, alcohol should work as a superficial vasodilator. I also used fresh water with the addition of dry wine. The acidic environment disinfects, you never know what kind of E. coli you pick up from the local pond.

“There are those who apply half a cut onion to the bite site. Does this have any effect?

- There is no use in doing this. There is no more poison at the site of the bite, says Dmitry Vasiliev. — There is such a demonstrative experience. The spots on both sides of the guinea pig were shaved down to bare skin and poison tinted with methylene blue was injected into one point, and saline solution with methylene blue into the other. The area of ​​the spot where the poison was injected was a hundred times larger than the place where the saline solution was injected. That is, the conductors in the venom instantly lead it away from the bite point. He "flies" to the nearest lymph node.

Unless there is an allergic component, the viper's venom is not strong enough to cause death in an adult. But if within an hour after the bite there is a severe headache, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding from the mucous membranes, clouding and loss of consciousness, a feeling of flashing light in the eyes, the person must be urgently taken to the hospital.

Herpetologist Alexander Ognev was bitten by poisonous teeth 91 times. Photo from personal archive.

“You cannot use a serum prepared from the venom of other snakes against a viper bite.”

- What do you say to those who, going to the forest, take with them an antidote - ampoules with anti-snake serum?

“The fact is that allergies to serum are more common than to poison,” says Alexander Ognev. “We must remember that this is not a vaccine, this is serum that is obtained in biofactories. To make it, snake venom is injected into the body of a horse or mule. They give an injection containing poison in a dosage much lower lethal dose. Then gradually increase the dose. Antibodies accumulate in the animal, then blood is taken from it, blood cells are separated, and pure plasma is used to prepare serum. Such horses and mules are worth their weight in gold. I want to warn you: you cannot use serum prepared from the venom of other snakes against a viper bite.

And it’s better if it’s administered to you in a medical facility. Doctors will first do a test, an injection with a minimum dose and look at the reaction so that there is no redness. Then the serum will be injected subcutaneously, but not with one injection, but eight to ten, in small doses, injected into the bite site. I have never injected serum in my entire life. I repeat: if you are bitten by a common viper, if you are an adult, it is not necessary to do this.

— If you go to the nearest hospital, can you be sure that they will have anti-snake serum in stock?

“I don’t know what their situation is now.” Previously, the pharmacy where you could buy the serum was guaranteed to be located on Tishinskaya Square. The whey was produced in Stavropol and Nizhny Novgorod. Now you can buy it online. (“MK” checked and made sure that there are more than enough offers. An ampoule with serum against the venom of the common viper costs 450-550 rubles. The shelf life is no more than a year, it must be stored in the refrigerator. It is freely sold to private individuals. The courier is ready to deliver the serum to any point.)

“There may not be serum in small rural hospitals, but it is always available at the Poisoning Center of the Sklifosovsky Institute of Emergency Medicine, at the Filatov Children's City Clinical Hospital No. 13, as well as in regional hospitals,” says Dmitry Vasiliev.

— How does viper venom affect cats and dogs?

- About the same as for a person. Dogs of large breeds of the Malos group are sensitive to snake venom, says Dmitry Vasiliev. — Dogs most often receive a bite in the area of ​​the nasolabial triangle, that is, when they sniff a snake. Swelling develops quickly and dogs may have difficulty swallowing food or water. And, for example, hunting dogs and dachshunds tolerate snake bites quite easily. In cops and drathaars, symptoms of poisoning spontaneously disappear after 6 hours, which does not exclude future complications associated with the kidneys. Large breed dogs may experience heart murmurs, wheezing, and pulmonary edema. Therapy for dogs is the same as for humans. In the hospital they are injected with anti-snake serum. And then they carry out symptomatic treatment: if the pressure drops, they raise it, “drip” antihistamines and painkillers.

— Could other types of poisonous snakes appear in the Moscow region due to warming?

“Due to warming, other species may appear, but we must take into account that the formation of a species takes about 5-6 thousand years,” says Alexander Ognev. — The closest point where there is a viper is the spurs of the Talginsky ridge, northwest of Makhachkala. The northernmost point where there is a cobra is the desert and the Ustyurt plateau of the same name in the west of Central Asia, at the junction of the borders of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

—Can a snake bite while in water?

— The viper swims, and quite well. Another thing is that it does not live where there are large bodies of water. And she easily swims across small rivers,” says Alexander Ognev. - In the river, if you grab it with your hand, of course, it can attack. But this is not her native element; in the river she is thinking about how to get away from you.

“I know for certain two cases when a snake bit a person in the water while trying to throw it away,” says Dmitry Vasiliev. - This is despite the fact that in order for a snake to bite, it must take a certain position. In order to throw the front third of the body forward, it needs some kind of solid support. And water is not very convenient for this. If someone mentions a snake in the water, then it is most likely a snake. They swim very willingly.

— Can a water snake be found in rivers near Moscow?

“The closest point to the Moscow region where there are water snakes is the Saratov region,” says Alexander Ognev. — Some diversity appears, starting from the Tula region. Nikolsky's viper, a copperhead that is not poisonous, already appears there. Closer to Volgograd you can meet the steppe viper and yellow-bellied snake. South of Volgograd - Sarmatian and patterned snake. The further south, the more types snake. But still this cannot be compared with the tropics, subtropics, the Caucasus and the Far East.

— How can you protect your garden plot from snakes?

— In the morning, about 8 o’clock, when the sun is just starting to get hot, walk around your territory and inspect everything carefully. Usually snakes warm themselves and are motionless. In order not to encounter a viper at your dacha, ensure hygiene of the area and remove construction waste, says Dmitry Vasiliev. — If you see a faded snake skin, reclaim these places and fill up all the holes.

“It is impossible for the garden plot to have deposits of firewood, piles of boards, pieces of roofing felt left after repairs,” explains Alexander Ognev, in turn. — Few people are interested in neatly stacked firewood. But the piled up, rotten boards and heaps of garbage - perfect place for sheltering rodents and lizards. A viper can also climb there and feel completely safe. Regularly mow the grass around your garden plot and it will lose its attractiveness to lizards, shrews, voles, and vipers.

Lecture for doctors "First aid for snake bites."

The severity and nature of symptoms from snake bites can be characterized by some common features, because snake venoms contain the same components that have similar effects on the human body. These toxins include the following:

• neurotoxin – affects and causes dysfunction of the nervous system
• Cholinesterase is an enzyme that causes disruption of the transmission of nerve impulses from nerves to muscles
• cardiotoxin – affects and causes disorders in the functioning of the cardiovascular system
• hemolysin – provokes the destruction of blood cells and red blood cells

Symptoms that appear in a victim after a snake bite can be divided into:

• general - appear when bitten by any poisonous snake and are expressed with varying degrees of intensity
• specific - characteristic of poisoning by a certain type of snake venom

General symptoms

Common symptoms of snake bites and poisoning include:

• Local signs. One or two triangular-shaped wounds are identified on the skin. They measure about 2-3 mm and are located on the same level. In the area of ​​the bite, the following signs of inflammation are detected: redness, swelling and burning sensations and pain. From the wounds stand out bloody issues, and hemorrhages or bluish spots may appear on the skin surrounding the bite site.
• General reactions. The victim’s temperature rises (to high levels), muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and loose stools with blood appear. Renal and hepatic failure gradually increases.
• Neurological disorders. The victim experiences a feeling of muscle weakness, confusion, numbness (especially in the bite area), headaches, decreased visual acuity, double vision, inability to focus, distortion of the facial muscles, drooping eyelids and impaired swallowing.
• Cardiovascular disorders. The victim's pulse quickens, blood pressure decreases or increases (sometimes to critical levels), breathing quickens and pain appears in the heart and chest.

The severity of symptoms of snake venom poisoning depends on many factors:

• The behavior of the victim after the bite. Running, fast movements, walking or panicking accelerate the rate at which the poison spreads throughout the body.
• Type of snake, its size and age. The most dangerous are the bites of rattlesnakes, adders and cobras, less so are the bites of snakes of the viper family, but they can also cause serious deviations and death (in 1% of cases). Poisoning from young or small snakes is less dangerous. In addition, the toxicity of the venom can also be influenced by the degree of fear of the snake before the attack: the more frightened and aggressive the snake is, the more toxic its venom becomes.
• Localization of the bite. Symptoms of poisoning develop more quickly when a bite is applied to the head, neck, torso and large blood vessels. When the lower extremities are affected, symptoms develop more slowly.
• Age and general health of the victim. Children, elderly people, women and people suffering from serious illnesses or under the influence of alcohol are more susceptible to snake venom toxins. In such cases, death can occur at lightning speed.
• The presence of pathogenic bacteria on the snake's teeth. Wound infection can cause the development of severe purulent complications, necrotic processes and sepsis.
• Heat air. A hot climate promotes faster blood flow through the vessels and the spread of poison.

All these factors contribute to the growth and progression common symptoms poisoning with snake venom. Depending on their combination and severity, the signs of poisoning can be aggravated by layering on each other or immediately causing the development of a shock reaction and the rapid onset of death of the victim.

First aid for a snake bite is as follows:

• Lay the victim in a horizontal position and calm him down. Once the snake is attached to the skin, it is removed immediately. If possible, the snake is identified or killed for further examination by a specialist
• Call an ambulance (if possible)
• If the snake cannot be identified, the victim is observed. The absence of pain, burning and swelling in the bite area may indicate that the snake is non-venomous
• Remove clothing and jewelry from the affected area, which can impair circulation and worsen swelling.
• If it is known for sure that the bitten snake is poisonous, then first aid measures begin immediately

Urgent Care

• Immobilize the affected limb (immobilize) using an improvised bandage or splint.
• Suction of the venom should be carried out in the first 5-10 minutes after the bite is applied, since at a later date it is no longer so effective. Timely implementation of this emergency measure helps remove about 50% of the poison from the body. If possible, it is better to use suction or a rubber bulb for this procedure, and if they are not available, suction is performed with the mouth. To perform suction, you should grab the skin at the puncture site in a fold and lightly knead it (this will allow the puncture sites to open up better from the teeth). Use your teeth to grasp the areas of skin surrounding the wounds and suck out the poison while pressing on the skin. Saliva containing poison should be spat out immediately. The same actions should be performed for 20 minutes.
• Disinfect the wound with hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, a weak solution of potassium permanganate or brilliant green. It is better not to use alcohol or alcohol solutions to treat a wound.
• Apply a loose bandage made of clean cloth or bandage to the wound and a moderately compressive bandage over the entire limb (the finger should freely penetrate under the surface of the bandage and not cause discomfort to the victim).
• Apply cold to the bite site. When using ice, it should be removed every 5-7 minutes (to prevent tissue frostbite).
• To reduce symptoms of intoxication, the victim should drink as much as possible (up to 3-5 liters of drinking water or alkaline mineral water per day), take vitamin K and C. Alkalinization of water can be done by preparing a soda solution: 1-2 teaspoons of soda per 1 liter of water. If possible, a dropper with a 5% glucose solution (400 ml) should be placed. To reduce blood pressure You can use intravenous infusion of 400 ml of Reopoliglucin.
• Give the patient to take antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, Loratadine, Tavegil, Levocetirizine) or administer intramuscularly (1 ml of 1% solution of Diphenhydramine, Pipolfen or Suprastin).
• Give the patient to take glucorticoid drugs (Dexamethasone - 2-4 mg/day, Prednisolone - 5 mg/day) or administer them intramuscularly (Prednisolone - 30-60 mg, Dexamethasone - 80 mg).
• After a cobra bite, the victim may have trouble breathing. To stabilize it, you should bring a cotton swab moistened with ammonia to the patient’s nose.
• If there are signs of respiratory and heart failure, the patient is administered Cordiamin, Ephedrine and Caffeine.
• When breathing and cardiac activity stop, artificial respiration and indirect cardiac massage are performed.

Antidotes

In case of poisoning with snake venom, the administration of antidotes - antisnake serums - is indicated. Their administration is most effective in the first hours or days after the bite. Subsequently, if necessary, the administration of serums can be repeated.

Serum against viper venom

Serum against horse viper venom, purified concentrated liquid, solution for injection, is a protein fraction of the blood serum of horses hyperimmunized with horse viper venom, containing specific immunoglobulins, purified and concentrated by peptic digestion and salt fractionation.

The drug is a clear or slightly opalescent, colorless or yellowish liquid without sediment.

One therapeutic dose is 1 50 antitoxic units (AU). The volume of contents in the ampoule depends on the specific activity of the serum (no more than 3 ml).

Immunological properties.

Purpose.

Treatment of people bitten by a viper.

Directions for use and dosage.

The serum is administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously at maximum early dates after a snake bite.

Ampoules with serum are carefully inspected before opening. The drug should not be used if:
• changes in physical properties (cloudy contents of the ampoule, the presence of unbreakable flakes);
• any damage to the integrity of the ampoules (cracks, etc.)

Providing the first wave to the person bitten on the spot.

The victim is placed in the shade and given plenty of drink: tea. coffee, milk, broth, water (the use of alcoholic beverages is contraindicated) and 1 therapeutic dose of serum is administered regardless of the body weight of the bitten person. To avoid anaphylactic shock or other allergic complications, before administering the serum, the victim is given 1-2 tablets of any antihistamine (diphenhydramine, pipolfen, tavegil, etc.) orally. The serum is injected subcutaneously in fractional increments (according to Bezredka) into any part of the victim’s body: first 0.1 ml, if there is no reaction, 0.25 ml is injected after 10-15 minutes and then after 15 minutes if there is no reaction. adverse reactions all the remaining whey. The opened ampoule should be covered with a sterile bandage or cotton swab.

After providing first aid, it is necessary to ensure immediate hospitalization of the victim to the nearest medical facility, where treatment will continue. The patient is transported in a supine position. The bitten leg is bandaged to the healthy one, giving a slightly elevated position. When bitten in the arm, it is fixed in a bent position with the help of a cloth thrown over the neck.

Assistance in a medical facility.

The total dose of serum administered is determined by the doctor depending on the degree of intoxication: for mild degrees, 1-2 doses intramuscularly, for severe cases, 4-5 doses, taking into account the dose administered before hospitalization.

In case of particularly severe intoxication, it is recommended to administer the serum intravenously slowly by drip after diluting (1/5-1/10) with a sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution for injection, heated to a temperature of (37±1)°C. Rate of administration: first 1 ml over 5 minutes, then 1 ml per minute. In exceptional cases, if it is impossible to carry out a drip infusion, a slow jet injection of a therapeutic dose of serum without dilution with a syringe is allowed. To avoid possible allergic reactions, before the start of intravenous infusion of serum, the patient is injected with 60-90 mg of prednisolone.

Intravenous administration of serum is permitted only to medical personnel!

In children, the same dosing principle is used as in adults, regardless of weight and age.

In some cases, if the bite site is contaminated with soil, there are wounds, or tissue necrosis of any type, it is necessary to take emergency measures to prevent tetanus in accordance with the instructions for the prevention of tetanus.

Reaction to introduction.

The administration of serum against viper venom may be accompanied by the development of various allergic reactions: immediate, occurring immediately after administration or several hours later and manifested by symptoms of anaphylactic shock, early - on the 2nd day after administration and long-term - on days 5-10. The latter are accompanied by a symptom complex of serum sickness (fever, itching and rashes on the skin, joint pain, etc.). If an anaphylactic reaction occurs, the administration of the serum is suspended. Adrenaline (0.3-1 ml), cordiamine (1.5-2 ml), prednisolone 25 ml or hydrocortisone (50-100 ml), strophanthin (0.5 ml 0.04%) with glucose (20 ml) are injected subcutaneously 40% solution). Considering the possibility of shock when the serum is administered, each vaccinated person must be provided with medical supervision for 1 hour after the end of the drug administration.

The administration of the serum must be registered in established accounting forms with the obligatory indication of the date, method and time of administration, the patient’s reaction, the manufacturing company and the batch number of the drug.

Contraindications.

A contraindication to continued use of the serum is only the development of anaphylactic shock when administering 0.1-0.25 ml of serum.

Release form.

In ampoules there is 1 therapeutic dose (150 AE). 5 ampoules in a cardboard box or 1 ampoule in a plastic box, complete with a sterile 5 ml syringe and needle. The box contains a scarifier or vulcanite separation disc and instructions for use.

Vacation conditions.

The drug, packaged in plastic boxes of 1 ampoule complete with a syringe, is dispensed from pharmacies without a doctor's prescription.

The drug, packaged in 5 ampoules in cardboard boxes, is intended for use in medical institutions.

Best before date.

Storage and transportation conditions. Shelf life: 2 years. A drug that has expired cannot be used. The drug is stored (out of reach of children) and transported in accordance with SP 3.3.2.1248-03 at a temperature of 2 to 8°C.

Serum that has been frozen once, but has not changed its physical properties, is suitable for use.

A first aid drug that was stored during expeditions with improper temperature conditions is not suitable for use at the end of the expedition.

Treatment for poisoning by snake venoms

Treatment of snake venom poisoning should be comprehensive and include symptomatic, detoxification and specific therapy. If necessary, resuscitation measures and artificial ventilation are carried out.

Treatment tactics are determined by the complexity of the clinical case and consist of the following measures:

1. For decreasing allergic reaction The patient is advised to take desensitizing drugs and corticosteroid hormones. The duration of their use and dosage depend on the severity of the patient's condition.
2. Detoxification therapy consists of infusion of solutions of sodium chloride, Refortan, glucose, Ringer, fresh frozen plasma and forced diuresis using diuretics (Trifas, Furosemide).
3. To eliminate the neurotoxic effects of the poison, anticholinesterase drugs are used - Proserin, Galantamine.
4. To prevent secondary infection and purulent complications, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used (Ceftim, Levofloxacin, Cefataxime, etc.).
5. To prevent hepatic-renal failure, the patient is prescribed Eufillin and hepatoprotectors (Hepadif, Essentiale, Berlition, etc.).
6. In case of severe poisoning (especially children), hemodialysis and hemosorption are indicated.

During treatment, monitoring of basic vital parameters and indicators of a general blood count, its biochemical parameters and a general urine test is always carried out.

Preventing snake bites

There are no specific ways to prevent poisonous snake bites.

To prevent snake bites, the following rules of conduct should be followed:

When you see a snake, you should not perform actions that provoke the snake to attack: scream, tease, or make sudden movements.

When entering a potential risk area, be sure to wear boots or high boots and thick clothing.

If you are walking through tall grass, use a stick to make sure there is no snake.

When walking in snake habitats, watch your step.

When in places that are remote from cities and medical institutions, carry medications with antidotes.

When staying outdoors for a long time in tents or sleeping bags, carefully choose a suitable place to sleep. It should be located on a hill with low vegetation, away from mountains and rocks.

Be sure to check tents and sleeping bags for snakes whenever you need to use them.

How to identify a poisonous snake?

The most dangerous snakes on the planet

View and buy books on ultrasound by Medvedev:

Most of humanity reacts to snakes with some kind of primal fear. Only a small group of “specially gifted individuals” find a strange pleasure in keeping something long, scaly and poisonous in their home. And an even smaller group of people struggle with their fears, but carefully study what to do if bitten by a snake, and how to behave so that this never happens. We hope that you relate to this last group. If yes, then there will be some useful information for you on the topic of “snake bite”. So…

Snake bite - how to avoid?

The easiest way is to avoid walking in areas where there may be snakes. Maps of the habitats of these reptiles are usually drawn up quite clearly, so it is not difficult to find out who exactly lives in the area where you visit most often. Because only very frivolous individuals can deliberately and frivolously wander through places where snakes live, whose bite will kill a person in an hour.

But even they should follow a few rules. The first rule is noise. Snakes, even the most aggressive ones, do not view humans as prey - only as a threat. And it’s easier to crawl away from a threat that has warned you of its existence in advance. Therefore, be sure to make noise when moving through the forest, especially if the ground is covered with grass or leaves. But shouting “Snake, fuck off!”, as is sometimes done, is useless. Reptiles' hearing is focused on surface vibrations rather than screams. So scatter leaves with each step and tap the ground with a stick. This is usually enough for the reptile to move away.

But, alas, this does not always work. Some snakes believe that they can hide. And it turns out that you won’t notice them until the very moment of the bite. Therefore, make yourself a simple rule - first the stick, then the arm/leg. Place a stick under the logs you plan to use for the fire. Into the piles of leaves you plan to wade through. The snake bite will target the target, not you.

Clothing matters too. Still, snakes are tuned to bite through the skin of small mammals, and not through tanned leather, tarpaulin or strong fabric. Strong, heavy boots that cover your ankle, the tightest possible pants - and there is a high chance that your legs will survive, even if a snake bites you - it just doesn’t bite, it gets upset and crawls off offended about its business. By the way, this is exactly what the majority does - only particularly aggressive species continue to attack. In such a situation, use a stick and try to push the aggressor away. Or immediately choose the one with which you can crush the snake like a spear. And remember - don’t waste the meat that was so unexpectedly obtained.

If you couldn't avoid the bite

Which, given the precautions mentioned above, is quite difficult. But it's real. Therefore, in the worst case scenario, you need to act according to the algorithm:

1. Eliminate further snake attacks

Either kill the aggressor or run away to a safe distance. You definitely don't need a second snake bite right now.

2. Remember the aggressor

Or take his carcass with you. The second is somewhat risky if the snake belongs to a protected species. But here it’s easier to pay a fine later than to describe the aggressor: “Well, a snake. Long, scaly and bites. Well, you know." Because many people bite, I have a species-specific antidote.

3. Bandage the affected area

Or apply a pressure bandage above the bite. Or even if you have it with you. It would be better. Because now you are doing the most important thing to do if a snake bites. Namely, you prevent the poison from spreading further and limit circulation in the affected area. It is also worth ensuring a certain position - the site of the snake bite should be located below the heart - this also reduces the intensity of blood circulation. If your foot is bitten, it is better to take off the shoe - the tissues will swell in any case, they do not need extra pressure. In addition, you should try to remain calm. For what? The same adrenaline increases the intensity of blood circulation.

4. Call for help

Or get to a place where help can be provided on your own. This is the second most important action when bitten by a snake. Most emergency rooms in snake habitats are required to have antivenom for a number of specific species. And if not, which also happens (the man had to wander all over the city before they could help him), then they must send you to where they are. Having previously found out with a phone call that yes, there is.

If you are bitten by absolutely any type of snake, for which you are not sure that it is safe, all the described steps must be followed. Even if you feel fine, it doesn’t matter. Yes, there is a chance that you were attacked by a young snake or one that has recently used up its supply of venom. But you shouldn't hope for it.

What you should never do if you are bitten by a snake

You can’t pull a limb “tightly”, as to completely stop bleeding. Alas, then the main effect will be right on the spot and more concentrated. Plus there will also be damage from tissue hypoxia. And it won’t be easy to move with a tight limb. The tourniquet should apply pressure, but not completely cut off blood circulation.

You can't cut the wound. The poison is already inside, has already entered the tissues and bloodstream, and has already partially spread through them. Any damage to the limb will lead to increased blood flow and loss of strength.

You can't suck out the poison. Not only because it is useless, but also because if there is damage in the mouth, you can become even more poisoned.

It is not recommended to use a special “snake bite pump”. In the USA, for example, it is included in some “survival kits”. The same principle is to suck out the poison, only without personal participation. Alas, the thing is simply useless. According to 2004 data from the Annals of Emergency Medicine in the United States, the pump helps remove at most 0.04 percent of the injected poison. And it takes up precious time.

And the main thing you should not do if you are bitten by a snake is to panic. Now to the majority snake snakes there are antidotes. Unless something particularly exotic from Australia or India can feel confident. But even in this situation, the most common hemodialysis seriously improves life. With its help you can “suck” the remaining toxins out of the blood. However, it is still better to take a snake bite seriously. If you act slowly and irrationally, even the antidote may no longer save you.