Snakes are not most people’s idea of a cute animal, and even though most of them are not venomous and will do you no harm, the last thing many of us would like is to encounter one in the wild. There are many rhymes and tales to help us determine which ones are dangerous, but they are hard to remember under pressure, and considering that the best piece of advice one can give when dealing with an unknown species is “do not touch” maybe you should not bother trying to figure out if a snake is dangerous and instead focus on fleeing the area.
Of course that is not always possible, and even in a country like the US where only about 10 percent of snakes are venomous it pays to have a good idea of what security protocols you should follow if you have an encounter with one of these pesky creatures.
What you should and should not do when faced with a snake
First, some good news for those who are worried, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that fatalities from venomous snakebites in the U.S. average around five annually. While deaths are relatively rare, the one thing that manages to keep the number of deaths low is the access to prompt medical treatment. The bad news is that of the estimated 7,000 to 8,000 people bitten each year, a significant portion, ranging from 10% to 44%, suffer permanent damage as a result even though they do not pass away from the injury.
But that is precisely why we need to be vigilant and careful. Encountering a snake is quite common in many areas of the country, and some basic safety measures can help ensure that you do not end up being part of these statistics. So, some easy steps you can take to make sure that you are not bitten are:
- Leave snakes alone: if you see a snake, give them a distance of at least 6 feet and try not to make any sudden movements that can cause it to lunge at you and attack.
- Never touch snakes, even dead ones can still have venom in their fangs. It might be tempting, but leave them where they are, and if you suspect that they are venomous and could be dangerous for the public, call animal control as they should be able to direct you and know what to do with the remains.
- Never step into places you cannot see. This applies to tall grass and wooded and unkept areas. If you must step into a dangerous zone, try to do so with caution and make as much vibrations as possible to warn any snakes in your path and have them move. Having a stick to part grass with may help, but also wearing sturdy boots, preferably thick leather will give you some much needed protection. And if you are making a habit out of this, consider also adding leather chaps or at least heavy duty long pants to your outfit.
- Avoid picking up rocks and firewood. If you cannot do this, use thick leather gloves so that if you get bitten it is not directly on your skin.
If you are bitten by a snake, it is important to remain as calm as possible and get medical help without delay. If safe, have someone take a photo of the snake to help doctors identify the species. Other things you should do are:
- Avoid touching or treating the wound yourself, as improper actions can worsen the situation.
- Keep the bite area lower than your heart and avoid lifting it.
- Remove anything that could restrict circulation like rings, bracelets, or tight clothing in case swelling begins.
- Do not wait for symptoms to develop before heading to a hospital. Avoid using tourniquets, cutting the skin, or trying to extract venom by suction. Ice and water immersion should also be avoided.
- Alcohol, aspirin, and ibuprofen can thin the blood and increase the spread of venom, so these should not be taken.