{"id":17356,"date":"2016-06-08T15:09:57","date_gmt":"2016-06-08T21:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/?p=17356"},"modified":"2017-03-03T12:22:05","modified_gmt":"2017-03-03T18:22:05","slug":"surviving-a-venomous-snake-bite-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/surviving-a-venomous-snake-bite-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Surviving a Venomous Snake Bite \u2013 What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The majority of snakes you come across in North America aren\u2019t venomous, however <!--more-->there are a reported <a href=\"http:\/\/ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu\/venomous_snake_faqs.shtml\" class=\"broken_link\">7000-8000<\/a> bites coming from venomous snakes each year. Fortunately, very few of these bites actually result in death and this is for a variety of reasons, including awareness and antivenin treatments. Furthermore, snakes often deliver a \u2018dry bite\u2019 on humans so that they aren\u2019t wasting their venom which is required to kill prey for food.<\/p>\n<p>In North America, there are four types of venomous snakes: coral snake, rattlesnake, cottonmouth and copperhead. Each snake has their own distinctive markings which you can learn to recognise and this will become extremely useful for when you\u2019re out and about. It\u2019s important to learn the markings of these snakes as other non-venomous snakes have adapted to look like them, as a way to serve a warning to predators.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to Identify a Venomous Snake?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s an infographic, produced by the guys at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sniffoutdoors.com\/ultimate-deadly-snake-guide\/\" class=\"broken_link\">Sniff Outdoors<\/a>, which goes over each snake\u2019s distinctive markings and some key features. This will also cover, briefly, what to do if you encounter one, which we\u2019ll talk about in a bit more in-depth in the body of this article.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"deadlysnakeguide\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/134932149@N05\/27271227470\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" embed=\"true\" class=\"broken_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/c7.staticflickr.com\/8\/7366\/27271227470_82bc849f65_o.jpg\" alt=\"deadlysnakeguide\" width=\"800\" height=\"4013\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\" async=\"\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- SS Main - Top 468 x 60 Banner --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 468px; height: 60px;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9552240293947910\" data-ad-slot=\"4871459485\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\/\/ <![CDATA[\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>How to Prevent a Snake Bite?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re out for a hike or going camping with your friends, it\u2019s important to be aware of your surroundings and have a knowledge of which snake is likely to live in that habitat. With this knowledge, you will be far more conscious of where you tread or place your hands. A large majority of snake bites actually come from human error i.e. walking too close to where a snake is lying or turning over a log to find a snake was underneath.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Gaining an understanding of the habitats of each snake and being aware of some key behaviours will go a long way to help to prevent a snake bite from actually occurring. For example, does the coral snake prefer to hide under rocks and leaves? Do cottonmouth snakes only live by the water or do they bask on rocks too?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/HVgYVd\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7345\/27513519926_ee44eb9e9b_z.jpg\" alt=\"1012px-Coral_009\" width=\"640\" height=\"569\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Coral Snake<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This snake and its subspecies tend to live in forested areas, spending most of its time underground or hiding in leaves. As well as enjoying staying in jungle areas, they are also found in the sand hills of Southeast United States.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It can be hard to tell the difference between the coral snake\u2019s head and tail which it uses to its advantaged when it feels threatened. It will coil its head into its body and raise its tail, which many people confuse with the head.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.snake-removal.com\/rhyme.html\">rhyme<\/a> \u2018Red and yellow, kill a fellow. Red and black, friend of Jack\u2019 if ever you come across one. On the venomous coral snake, the red and yellow bands are always touching. Some non-venomous snakes have similar colorings, however not in the same order.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/H3xmtM\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7319\/26939377843_c25103540a_z.jpg\" alt=\"rattlesnake (1)\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Rattlesnake<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The large majority of rattlesnakes are found in South-western United States. The most obvious feature of the rattlesnake is the tail, which acts as a warning signal to threats. As well as their rattle at the end of the tail, rattlesnakes also produce a hissing noise, in a similar manner to a cat hissing when threatened.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Rattlesnakes live in a variety of areas, including grasslands, swamps, bush and rocky areas. In warmer temperatures, they like so soak up the sun on rocks or open areas. However, they also spend a lot of time in rocky dens and some will hibernate in winter conditions.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Similar to coral snakes, when threatened, rattlesnakes coil their body, however instead of raising their tails, they will raise their head, which gives them a greater ability to strike if needed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/HPA7vu\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7428\/27449158502_664ecd405a_z.jpg\" alt=\"Florida_Water_Moccasin_056\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Cottonmouth<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Also know as the Water Moccasin, this snake is semi-aquatic and prefers to live in and around water, such as swamp or marsh areas. When not in water, due to the fact they are cold blooded, they will spend time raising their body temperatures by basking on rocks.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The cottonmouth has a thick body with a blocky head and dark brown cross bands. Sometimes in older snakes, the skin coloring is so dark that it appears to have no visible markings, which can make it trickier to identify.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Living in Southeastern US, the cottonmouth can be found most places where water is involved, like ponds, rivers, swamps and lakes. Unlike most other snakes, the cottonmouth tends not to retreat in face of threat, which gives it a reputation for being aggressive. Similar to the rattlesnake, though, it will coil its body and raise its head to be ready to strike.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/HxSagG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7350\/27271225650_66da1934d4_z.jpg\" alt=\"Copperhead05website\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Copperhead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Its name is given by the light brown\/read appearance and copper colored head. The outline of their cross bands tend to be darker, with the inside coloring being a lighter shade of brown. They\u2019re at their widest at the top of their back and narrower down their side, which is the opposite of the cottonmouth\u2019s cross bands.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The copperhead has a large range, across northern and southern US, with their largest range being from Alabama to Massachusetts and Illinois. Similar to rattlesnakes, they have a variety of habitats however primarily they like to stay in forested or rocky areas such as mountains, next to streams or canyons. It\u2019s not uncommon to see them in suburban areas hiding under rocks or in old, abandoned buildings.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Although copperheads usually hunt alone, they can be found on rocks with other snakes and are seen as a sort of \u2018social snake\u2019. It can be hard to spot this snake, which means humans can easily make a mistake by treading too closely.<\/p>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\" async=\"\"><\/script><!-- SS Main - Top 468 x 60 Banner --> <ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 468px; height: 60px;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9552240293947910\" data-ad-slot=\"4871459485\"><\/ins><script>\/\/ <![CDATA[\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>Precautions to Avoid a Bite<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You should now have a fairly good understanding of venomous snake behaviour and their likely habitats. There are also some things you should and shouldn\u2019t do, which will set you in good stead for preventing a bite from occurring. Prevention is much better than having to deal with a bite.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nlm.nih.gov\/medlineplus\/ency\/article\/000031.htm\" class=\"broken_link\">DON\u2019T turn over logs<\/a> or place your hands on rocks without checking first \u2013 these are perfect places for snakes to hide.<\/li>\n<li>Watch your step \u2013 be careful if you\u2019re walking in long grass or somewhere you can\u2019t see where you\u2019re placing your feet.<\/li>\n<li>Always zip up your tent and keep your boots inside it \u2013 snakes love to slither into dark places.<\/li>\n<li>DON\u2019T fend off a snake with a stick \u2013 if you\u2019re close enough to do that, you\u2019re probably close enough to be bitten!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>What Should You do if You\u2019re Bitten?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you do land yourself in the unfortunate position of becoming victim of a venomous bite, make sure to follow the next few steps. It could be the difference between a minor inconvenience to a bigger problem.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Seek medical assistance straight away and try to describe key features of the snake in as much detail as possible, including what kind of habitat it is in.<\/li>\n<li>Lower the wound below your heart \u2013 this will stop the poison from spreading as quickly.<\/li>\n<li>Minimise the risk of a second bite \u2013 often snakes give a dry bite at first and a venomous bite if they need to fend you off again so there\u2019s no point in making the situation worse.<\/li>\n<li>Keep your heart rate down and minimise movement \u2013 again, this is in an attempt to stop the poison from spreading quickly around your body.<\/li>\n<li>If you\u2019re not going to get help for a while, wash the wound with fresh water to prevent infection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>***Please note there has been some controversy as to whether or not you should apply pressure or use a tourniquet for a snake bite. \u00a0Please see the following resources and make an informed decision when deciding the best method to treat a snake bite.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cApplying [PBI] with a pressure between 40 and 70\u00a0mm Hg in the upper extremity and between 55 and 70\u00a0mm Hg in the lower extremity around the entire length of the bitten extremity is an effective and safe way to slow the dissemination of venom by slowing lymph flow (Class IIa, LOE C). For practical purposes pressure is sufficient if the bandage is comfortably tight and snug but allows a finger to be slipped under it. Initially it was theorized that slowing lymphatic flow by external pressure would only benefit victims bitten by snakes producing neurotoxic venom, but the effectiveness of pressure immobilization has also been demonstrated for bites by non-neurotoxic American snakes\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-dyn\/content\/article\/2006\/10\/04\/AR2006100401529.html\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"broken_link\">http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-dyn\/content\/article\/2006\/10\/04\/AR2006100401529.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/adventure.howstuffworks.com\/snake-bite2.htm\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"broken_link\">http:\/\/adventure.howstuffworks.com\/snake-bite2.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3550186\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"broken_link\">http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3550186\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstaidanywhere.com\/snake-bite-first-aid.html\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.firstaidanywhere.com\/snake-bite-first-aid.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=surspoblo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=1616081821&amp;asins=1616081821&amp;linkId=744195a3a5a4d62ddaa666467b0b0871&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=surspoblo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B000AU9PEC&amp;asins=B000AU9PEC&amp;linkId=c17fe8f2010e1064d28ac57b7fdcb9c4&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=surspoblo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B0142WP68W&amp;asins=B0142WP68W&amp;linkId=4191a56c079739267be4dcfb203a57a5&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=surspoblo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B00KF2OTLE&amp;asins=B00KF2OTLE&amp;linkId=609ed522ccc2c8fdbfac097bd1f5f5d5&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The majority of snakes you come across in North America aren\u2019t venomous, however<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17363,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[376,403],"tags":[499,497,498],"class_list":["post-17356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","category-outdoors","tag-avoid-a-snake-bite","tag-survive-a-snake-bite","tag-treat-a-snake-bite"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17356"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17356\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17374,"href":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17356\/revisions\/17374"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17363"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.survival-spot.com\/survival-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}