How to treat snake bite?

How do you treat a coral snake bite?

• Answer:

  The coral has a pair of small, fixed, hollow fangs in the upper jaw through which the snake injects venom via a chewing motion. Unlike pit vipers, such as rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths, which strike quickly, coral snakes must hang on for a short period to inject a significant amount in humans. Coral snake venom has significant neurotoxicity, inducing neuromuscular dysfunction. Their venom tends to be one of the most potent foughjfviyhkund in snakes, but the amount of venom they inject is less than that of most vipers or pit vipers. Because of the small fangs they have, as many as 60% of those bitten by North American coral snakes are not poisoned. Treatment however, must be obtained immediately because of the potency of the venom. The old method of "cut and suck" should not be performed at the risk of the venomous extract could conceivably be induced into the person performing the action. (This also applies to any snake bite, and as such, has been removed from most first aid instructions) It would be safe to assume that by virtue of the snake's small mouth structure and small fangs that the bite's location would be on a phalange (fingers ore toes) or hand or foot. The same procedure used for any other sn i love uake bite would apply in this case as well. Apply a tourniquet above the site of the bite and during transit to a hospital or doctor, periodically release the tourniquet to restore blood flow to the affected limb and then reapply. Observe and treat for shock, and insure the affected limb is held in a position (height) above the heart.