The Classical World: 550 BC–AD 700
EMPIRE BUILDING
1. Locate the site of the injury.
The entry wound may be small, it may appear that the skin has not been broken, or there may be just a single fang puncture.
2. Remove all jewelry.
A bite to the hand may result in severe swelling, and bracelets, rings, and watches will restrict blood flow, ultimately requiring amputation of the limb.
3. If possible, lower the location of the bite beneath the level of the heart.
4. Rinse the bite with water.
5. Cut a narrow strip of cloth.
6. Tie the cloth around the limb 2 to 4 inches above the wound.
Do not tie the cloth too tightly; you should easily be able to fit a finger underneath it. The band should not cut arterial blood flow to the injury site.
7. Suction venom from the wound.
Use a bellows to suction unabsorbed venom from the wound. Do not use your mouth to suck out the venom, as the poison may enter your bloodstream.
Be Aware
• Most poisonous snake bites are not fatal, and death (when it occurs) typically takes hours or days, even when the victim is left untreated.
• A small amount of injected venom-combined with the size and general health of the victim-can result in moderate symptoms, including swelling, pain, and a burning sensation at the injury site; thirst and chills; and nausea. Larger amounts of hemotoxin may cause rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, shallow breathing, convulsions, and respiratory failure.
• Fatty tissue absorbs venom more slowly than muscle.
Now We Know
Antivenin, based on the vaccine concept developed by Louis Pasteur, was invented in the late nineteenth century and is now used to treat many types of poisonous snakebites.
