First-Aid

• Immobilize the patient to retard systemic absorption of venom
• Reassure and control early symptoms of envenoming
• Attend to the site of bite
• ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) and preserve life and prevent hypoxaemia
• Take immediately to nearest hospital

It is natural that a snake bite creates intense fear of death and the victim may react by running in agitation. Muscle activity, vasodilatation and increased heart rate lead to rapid absorption of the venom. Hence, it is important to immobilize and to reassure the victim. Splinting the bitten part is recommended to facilitate immobilization. The bitten site must be washed with clean water and covered it with clean cloth. If the patient develops envenoming, vital organ functions should be assessed. The most important step is to send the patient to the nearest hospital as fast as possible. During transport, semiconscious patients should be kept in the semiprone position to avoid aspiration of vomitus.

Harmful invasive procedures and treatments such as incision of the site of bite and application of medicines, traditional medicines, nasal insufflation of medicines, application of tourniquet, aspirin and alcohol.

• Home
• Snakes - Introduction
• Venomous snakes of Sri Lanka
• Snake venom
• Medically important snakes of Sri Lanka
• Identification and morphological characteristics
• Epidemiology and clinical manifestations
• First aid
• Management at a peripheral hospital
• Management of snake bite in a tertiary care hospital
• Special situations (children, elderly, pregnancy and underlying diseases)
• Health education on the prevention of snake bite
• Summary (management in brief)
• Reference