A viper bite is a rather dangerous occurrence. However, with timely detection, correctly provided first aid and hospitalization, he is not fatal. It is worth noting that death is most often recorded among young children.
Viper Bite: Symptoms . Vipers are non-aggressive creatures and when meeting a person they try to escape, they rarely attack, and only if they feel threatened. Therefore, when meeting this reptile you should not come close or make sudden movements - just let it go.
As a rule, after a bite, two small point wounds remain on the victim’s body. In this area, acute pain appears almost immediately and edema begins to form - the poison begins to spread throughout the body. The closer the bite of the viper is to the head, the more dangerous the condition of the patient.
The venom of the viper, spreading along with the blood stream, has both local and general effects on the body. Local reactions are severe pain, swelling of the bite area, as well as partial destruction and tissue necrosis. As for the general effect of the poison, the affected person may complain of dizziness, nausea, weakness, vomiting, excessive irritability, shortness of breath. In some cases, convulsions may begin, the activity of the cardiovascular system may weaken, the patient may lose consciousness.
What to do if a viper has bitten? Of course, when bitten by a viper, you must immediately call an ambulance crew or take a person to the hospital. The main requirement for the victim is to observe the most stationary, lying position. Do not make sudden movements, try to catch a bitten reptile or go to the hospital on foot. Any movement enhances blood flow, and therefore accelerates the spread of poison.
First aid to the injured person is the suction of the poison. If this procedure is carried out in the first few minutes after a bite, then half the poison can be removed from the body. When ingested in the oral cavity or stomach, this toxin does not cause any side effects. This procedure is prohibited if the person providing first aid has open sores in the mouth or bleeding gums.
The affected part of the body (in most cases this is the leg) should be immobilized. To do this, lay the tire. Do not apply a tourniquet - this does not affect the spread of poison, but worsens bleeding in the affected limb, causing tissue necrosis.
Before arriving at the hospital, you can take a pill of some kind of antihistamine, such as Tavegil or Suprastin. Further help can only be provided by a doctor.
In any hospital, there is a special serum against viper venom, which is administered to the patient. This is precisely the most effective treatment. With severe pain, novocaine blockade is also indicated . In most cases, the prognosis for a person is quite favorable - recovery occurs after 3 to 4 days.
Viper bite: what can not be done ? As already mentioned, a viper bite is rarely fatal. But with the provision of improper help, the condition of the affected person may worsen. Oddly enough, but there are countless alternative methods of treatment, the use of which can lead to complications and even death.
For example, it is believed that snake toxin can be neutralized with alcohol. It is worth remembering that the use of alcohol in this condition is strictly prohibited. Under the influence of alcohol, the vessels expand, and this only accelerates the process of absorption of the poison. And alcohol treatment for children can cause severe intoxication.
You should also not burn an injured place. Firstly, it does not stop the spread of toxin throughout the body. Secondly, a severe burn only increases the intensity of the pain syndrome and can initiate an attack of pain shock.
You can also not apply plant leaves, soil to the bite site or treat it with saliva - this can cause infection.