Snake Bite Kits
Have you ever been bitten by a huge, blood-sucking mosquito? It must be an incredibly unpleasant experience, not to mention a health risk. But that’s nothing compared to being bitten by a poisonous snake. So if you’ve made plans to stay outdoors, make sure you know first aid for snake bites. And don’t forget to have a snake bite kit handy.
Most recent snake bite kits comprise of suction-mechanism venom extractors and a razor for shaving the area to provide ideal suction. They may also contain alcohol and cotton or alcoholized gauze to help disinfect the snakebite site. It is best to wash the area with soap and water, followed by further disinfection with cotton and alcohol.
Topical anesthetic may be provided to alleviate pain. When a snake bite victim is in pain, heart rate increases and circulation consequently improves. This is not a good thing as it encourages poison to spread through the body. The snake bite kit also usually comes with a handy guide providing instructions for use and emergency care tips for snake bites.
Signs that the snake may be poisonous include progressive changes in color and appearance around the area of the snake, and nervous system involvement which may first appear as tingling. Whether or not a snake is poisonous, you’ll never really know unless you are familiar with the different poisonous snake species in your area. It is then only prudent to have a snake bite kit handy.