SNAKE BITES Mary Carroll-Ambrose

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SNAKE BITESMary Carroll-Ambrose
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Myths About Snakes

• Snakes hold their tails in their mouths to
  create a circle and will chase you.
• When you kill a snake, another one will chase
  you.
• What is true is that excessive killing of snakes
  leads to over population of rodents and more
  diseases.

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Snake Bite Facts

• There are about 8000 venomous snake bites
  reported each year in the US.
• Only about 12 people die each year from
  snake bites.
• The chances of getting bit by a snake are 110
  million.
• Victims of snake bites usually have two things in
  common tattoos and alcohol.

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Snake Venom

• Hemotoxic causing damage to the blood and other
  tissues.

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Snake Venom

• Neurotoxic causing damage to the nerves.
• (smart fellow)

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Hemotoxin Symptoms

• Intense pain
• Weakness
• Rapid pulse
• Numbness/tingling
• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Vomiting
• Metallic taste
• Confusion

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Neurotoxic Symptoms

• Eyelid drooping (ptosis)
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Double vision (diplopia)
• Excessive salivation
• Sweating
• Decreased reflexes
• Respiratory depression
• Paralysis

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General Rules for Treatment

• Bitten area should be immobilzed
• Transported to the hospital quickly
• Area washed with soap and water
• Wide tourniquet applied 2-4 inches above the bite
  if on an extremity
• Incising and suctioning the bite area has not be
  shown to be helpful
• Ice or cooling packs should never be applied as
  these have no benefit and may cause harm
• Most importantly, victims of a snake bite should
  be evaluated in an ER as soon as possible

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Snake Bite Treatment

• Reassurance-keep patient clam
• Minimize all activity
• Remove all jewelry
• Do not incise the wound as this will cause
  further tissue damage
• Do not use electrical shock at site as this will
  not work
• Do not suction with your mouth as this will most
  likely cause more harm

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Snake Bite Treatment

• Splint and immobilize the extremity
• Maintain at heart level-do not elevate above the
  heart
• Transport to ER asap-call ahead if possible as
  many ERs do not routinely carry anti-venom
• Vipera palaestinae antivenin 20ml IV over 30
  minutes
• If symptoms are still present, 10ml IV over 30
  minutes
• Watch carefully for anaphylacic reactions

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References

• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmdretriev
  e
• Venomous Snake Bite Tretment Information by
  MedicineNet.com
• Survive Outdoors inc.com