If you spend any time outdoors, you have likely encountered a snake of some kind. What if you get too lose and you are bitten by a snake? A snake bite is an emergency; immediately seek medical attention. To learn more about how to treat a snake bite, read on.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

If you spend any time outdoors, you have likely encountered a snake of some kind. What if you get too lose and you are bitten by a snake? A snake bite is an emergency; immediately seek medical attention. To learn more about how to treat a snake bite, read on.

• Just as you like to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, so do snakes. In most cases, nether the two shall meet—but occasionally they do and this results in a snake bite. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year in the U.S. Despite this fact, only a very small percentage die from the bites. If you are bitten, you must immediately seek the care of a medical professional; the longer you wait, the greater the chances of long-term complications.

• The first thing you need to do if you've been bitten by a snake is to call 9-1-1. While you wait for help, you should:

1. Remain as still as possible to keep any venom in your bloodstream from spreading
2. Wash the area with soap and water
3. Elevate the affected area above the heart, if possible
4. Remove any rings or other items that could constrict blood flow if the area begins to swell

• If help is more than 30 minutes away, you may want to apply a splint to the affected area to immobilize the extremity.

(Creative Commons photo by Mike Johnston)

• While you are waiting for help, have someone with you try to identify the type of snake that bit you. There are several varieties of poisonous snakes in the U.S., including:

1. Pit vipers
   1. Rattlesnakes
   2. Copperheads
   3. Water moccasins or cottonmouths
2. Coral snakes

• Correctly identifying the type of snake that bit you will help medical professionals know what type of treatment you will need.

• Treatments for poisonous snake bites vary by the severity of the bite, including:

1. The type of snake that bit you
2. How much venom was injected
   1. Not all snakes inject venom when they bite; this is called a "dry bite"
   2. Some snakes may only inject a trace amount of venom
3. Potency of the venom
4. Location of the bite
5. Depth of the bite
6. Your age, size and overall health

• While you are waiting for professional medical attention, there are several things you should not do to treat a snake bite. Do not:

1. Apply ice to the bite
2. Apply a tourniquet
3. Make any kind of incision into the wound
4. Try to suction out any venom with your mouth

• Introduction
• Step 1: Call 9-1-1
• Step 2: Identify the Snake
• Step 3: Treating Poisonous Snake Bites
• Step 4: What You Should Not Do