What to Do Immediately After a Snake Bite

A snake bite can be a frightening and potentially life-threatening emergency. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes can help reduce complications and give the victim a better chance of receiving effective treatment.

Not every snake bite involves venom, but it is often impossible to know immediately whether a bite is dangerous. For this reason, a suspected venomous snake bite should always be treated as a medical emergency.

The most important rule is simple: keep the person still and get medical help as quickly as possible.

1. Move Away From the Snake

The first priority is to make sure the victim is no longer in danger.

Move away from the snake and do not attempt to catch, kill, or handle it.

Trying to identify or capture the snake can result in another bite.

If the snake can be photographed safely from a distance, a photograph may help medical professionals identify it. However, personal safety should always come first.

2. Get Medical Help Immediately

A person who has been bitten by a snake should be taken to an appropriate medical facility as soon as possible.

Venom can affect the nervous system, blood clotting, breathing, muscles, and other parts of the body.