Snake Bites Essays - Venomous Snakes, Wilderness Medical Emergencies

Snake Bites Bob was walking in the woods one day when his life was put in great danger. He had just stepped over a log when he felt a sharp sting on the back of his leg. He looked down and saw two small puncture wounds on his leg. The stinging sensation instantly went throughout his body and that was when he saw a snake still laying beside the log he had just stepped over. Bob had many questions running through his head. He didnt know what to do. He didnt know if the snake was poisonous. Bob began to panic. What next? Is Bob going to live? We will find out later but first lets learn more about the dangers of snakebites. What are snake bites? Snake bites are wounds inflicted by the mouth of a snake. A wound from a snake with short teeth and no fangs may look like a series of scratches or tiny punctures. The twin puncture wounds usually associated with snakebites appear when the paired fangs of a fanged snake break through the skin.(Encarta 99) Snakebites from nonpoisonous snakes are not serious but should be cleansed with an antiseptic to prevent infection. The bite of a poisonous snake, which can inject venom into the body, may cause a burning pain usually spreads rapidly from the place where you have been bitten. Swelling and color changes in the skin follow soon after. A person may feel feverish, thirsty, and sick at their stomach. They may even vomit.(Diseases-Encyclopedia) Bites by coral snakes produce somewhat different symptoms, including numbness, vision problems, and difficulty swallowing.(Diseases-Encyclopedia) The victim of a snakebite should seek first aid promptly. An attempt should be made to identify the snake if it can be done safely. First aid measures should focus on keeping the victim quiet so that the heart rate remains normal, thereby slowing the spread of venom in the bloodstream. The area of the bite should be kept below the level of the heart. The victim should seek medical attention immediately. Depending upon the victims symptoms and the species of the snake, the physician may administer antivenin, a preparation that helps to neutralize the venom and minimize its harmful effects.(Encarta96) The venom of poisonous snakes is produced and stored in specialized glands within the snakes head. In the United States, there are four types of poisonous snakes: coral snakes, rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths, or water moccasins. With the exception of coral snakes, all these snakes are pit vipers.(Encarta99) Responsible for most snake attacks on human beings, pit vipers have the most efficient fangs for injecting venom. Their fangs are hollow, curved, and so long that they fold back into the mouth when not in use. Their venom mostly affects the circulatory system, but it also causes disruption of normal nervous system function.(Encarta99) Coral snakes have short, fixed fangs in the front of the mouth and they hang onto and chew their victims. Unlike vipers, coral snakes bite only when they are being handled or are accidentally touched or stepped on. Their venom primarily affects the nervous system.(Encatta99) When walking in areas where poisonous snakes are present, individuals should wear high boots and thick loose pants, and should remain alert in order to avoid close encounters with these reptiles. Individuals should also be able to distinguish between poisonous and nonpoisonous snakes.(Encarta99) People who frequent these wilderness spots, as well as those who camp, hike, picnic, or live in snake-inhabited areas, should be aware of potential dangers posed by venomous snakes. Every state but Maine, Alaska and Hawaii is home to at least one of 20 domestic poisonous snake species. A bite from one of these, in which the snake may inject varying degrees of toxic venom, should always be considered a medical emergency, says the American Red Cross.(For Goodness Snakes) About 8,000 people a year receive venomous bites in the United States nine to 15 victims die. Some experts say that because victims can't always positively identify a snake, they should seek prompt care for any bite, though they may think the snake is nonpoisonous. Even a bite from a so-called harmless snake can cause an infection or allergic reaction in some people.(For Goodness Snakes) Types of Venomous Snakes Two families of venomous snakes are native to the United States. The vast majority are pit vipers, of the family Crotalidae, which include rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths (water moccasins). Pit vipers get their common name from a small pit between the eye and nostril that allows the snake to sense prey at night. They