What to do if you have bitten a person? A snake bite can be dangerous, but was it really a snake bite? Is it poisonous or not for humans?

Outdoor recreation is an opportunity to strengthen the immune system and recharge with bright emotions. But there is always a danger of encountering wild representatives fauna. It is worth knowing how to provide first aid for a snake bite and what consequences can be expected.

When can it bite?

The snake is a common species of snake living in the CIS countries, and does not belong to the poisonous group. At the same time, a reptile bite can cause serious problems with health. In some cases, a severe allergic reaction develops that is life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to know how to properly assist the victim. Snake bites can be especially dangerous for children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

Already ordinary - non-poisonous species snake

As a rule, snakes do not behave aggressively. They can exist peacefully next to humans. A snake bites only when it feels danger to itself or its offspring. Often the cause of a bite is inappropriate behavior a man pestering a snake. If you touch a snake with a stick or try to anger it, it will defend itself.

In the summer, you can suffer from a snake bite in a body of water, where the reptile lives. The man does not look at his feet and steps on the grass snake. The snake triggers a defensive reaction. In this regard, bites are most often detected on the legs. In children preschool age bites can be observed on any part of the body. A child tries to pick up a snake and is injured as a result. In nature, it is necessary to supervise children with increased attention.

The tiger snake is a type of venomous snake. A reptile bite can be fatal. In Russia, such reptiles are rare. You can meet them in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories.

The bite of a tiger snake is fatal

Snakes become more aggressive during the mating season. This period lasts from April to May. Walking in the snake habitat at this time carries increased danger.

Many people confuse the snake with a viper, whose bites can lead to the development dangerous symptoms. Death cannot be ruled out. If you are bitten by a snake, you must take the victim to a medical facility as quickly as possible.

Video: how not to confuse a snake with a viper

Symptoms

Dangerous consequences develop if a person develops an allergic reaction to the saliva of a reptile. Most people compare a snake bite to an injury from a cat's claws. Teeth marks appear on the body - red dots. Slight hyperemia and edema may be observed in this area. The first few minutes after the bite, blood will ooze. The discharge can be quickly stopped. Bite difference poisonous snake in that the person additionally experiences a strong burning sensation at the site of injury. Pain appears within 10–15 minutes.

If a person develops an allergic reaction after being bitten by a grass snake, the swelling will be more pronounced. In addition, itching will appear at the site of the bite. To avoid complications, the patient must receive medical assistance as quickly as possible. There is a high risk of developing angioedema.

I personally had to deal with a situation where, after being bitten by a snake, my brother’s leg became very swollen. The swelling subsided within 20 minutes after taking the antihistamine, even before the ambulance arrived.

At the site of the bite you can see puncture points from teeth

The bite of a tiger snake poses a great danger to health. These snakes have venom in their back teeth. There have even been recorded cases of death after a bite from such a reptile. The poison is especially dangerous for children and pregnant women. The patient exhibits signs of severe poisoning, such as:

• severe itching in the bite area;
• labored breathing;
• muscle spasms;
• limb spasms;
• significant increase in body temperature;
• general weakness and dizziness.

Symptoms will be more pronounced in weakened patients, as well as people prone to allergic reactions.

First aid for a snake bite

It is possible that the injury was caused by a viper or tiger snake. Therefore, the algorithm of actions should always be the same. First of all, you need to call ambulance or try to independently deliver the patient to a medical facility.

If you are not sure that the bite was caused by a snake, you should try to suck out the poison from the wound. This must be done in the first seconds of the incident. You need to press on the area around the wound with your fingers and begin to vigorously suck out the poison, spitting periodically. These actions should be performed for 10–15 minutes. Thanks to correctly provided first aid, it is possible to remove part of the poison.

Proper antiseptic treatment of the wound is important

To avoid infection, the wound must be carefully treated:

1. Wash under running water and soap.
2. Treat with an antiseptic. Hydrogen peroxide, Miramistin, Chlorhexidine are suitable.
3. If swelling is present, apply ice or another cold object.
4. Treat the area around the wound with iodine.
5. Allergy sufferers are advised to take an antihistamine (Tavegil, Diazolin, Suprastin).

Hydrogen peroxide will prevent the growth of bacteria in the wound

If a person is absolutely sure that he was bitten by an ordinary snake, it will be enough to carry out the correct antiseptic treatment of the wound. Even if the symptoms are not pronounced, in order to avoid unpleasant complications, you should consult a doctor. If a reptile has bitten a child or a pregnant woman, there can be no question of self-medication. It is necessary to get to a medical facility as quickly as possible.

Forecast and consequences

With proper first aid, the prognosis is favorable. But incorrect therapy can lead to serious consequences. When bitten by a tiger snake, death is possible. There is also a danger of wound infection. If the abscess is large, it may be necessary to amputate the affected limb.

If a few days after the bite the victim’s body temperature rises, the bite site becomes red and swollen, you should seek help from a doctor as soon as possible. There is a serious threat to life.

If a few days after the bite the wound begins to hurt and swelling appears, you should not hesitate to see a doctor.

How to protect yourself from a snake bite

Despite the fact that the bite of a common snake in most cases does not pose a serious threat to life, it is unpleasant to encounter a reptile. You can easily protect yourself from injury. He will never bite just like that. Even when meeting a person, the snake will prefer to crawl away as quickly as possible. Therefore, if you had to deal with a snake, you need to behave calmly and not make sudden movements.

You definitely shouldn't do this:

• trying to pick up a snake;
• catch it with a stick;
• run after a reptile;
• throw stones at the snake.

It will definitely bite if you step on it. Such snakes live near ponds in tall grass. Therefore, it is better to walk in such areas in high rubber boots.

A snake bite can cause a lot of unpleasant moments for a person. Few people have pleasant feelings about snakes. But anyone can encounter a snake, for example, in the forest while walking to pick berries and mushrooms. What to do if you are bitten by a snake, how to help the victim?

Where live

The snake is a reptile and belongs to non-venomous snakes. Very often it is confused with vipers. But you should remember the differences of this animal.

Differences:

• The head of the snake is oval, in the viper it has the shape of a triangle,
• The scales of the snake are shiny, the viper has a matte color,
• On the back of the head of a non-venomous animal there are yellow-orange spots,
• Snakes have round eyes, vipers have vertical pupils.

Snakes are found in fields, forests, and wetlands. They often settle near bodies of water.

Generally, the size of a snake depends on its gender, males fewer females. The length reaches about a meter. The largest reptile reached three meters.

Egg laying occurs between June and July.

Snakes of this type love warm, sunny weather; they are diurnal reptiles. Quite rarely seen at night. Reptiles are excellent swimmers and can stay under water for a long time.

They eat frogs and lizards. There is no special system for catching prey. It grabs the victim by the head and legs and swallows it whole.

In winter, the snake hibernates, and in the spring it sheds. During the warm period, females begin to look for a suitable object for mating.

In nature, reptiles have quite a lot of different enemies, such as birds of prey, and animals. Rats attack burrows and eat newly laid eggs and small snakes.

Is it dangerous for humans?

The snake is not poisonous. A person can encounter it almost everywhere in nature, especially near water. This reptile does not show aggression on its own. When you meet her in the water, you just need to not touch her, she will simply swim away and not bite.

If you drive a snake into a corner, it will become aggressive. The snake begins to hiss and take a stance. However, she almost never intends to attack and bite. Moreover, quite often this reptile simply pretends to be dead.

Snakes have their own means of protection. Liquid is released from their cloaca yellow color and a rather unpleasant smell. Additionally, it has been observed that they can release feces towards the opponent in a vigorous manner.

Is a snake bite dangerous for humans?

It should be noted that this type of reptile has the same teeth as all snakes. However, there is no poison in them.

The toxic substance is present in only one species of these snakes - tiger snakes. Their poison is located in the back teeth, it is injected when swallowing the victim.

It is worth noting that there are recorded fatal cases of bites tiger snakes. The poison is especially dangerous for a child.

All the dangers of a bite normal looking– this is not a carefully treated wound. In this case, an infection may get into it and an inflammatory process will develop, which may end unfavorably.

Settlement with a person

These snakes rarely live near people, preferring forests, swampy areas, and fields. It is almost impossible to find it in the garden.

However, in old times the presence of such a reptile near the house was considered a good omen. There are many beliefs associated with him; they were protected and were not allowed to kill. They said that he is the patron of the house and livestock, that he brings prosperity to the family. Many villagers tell how these reptiles drank milk directly from the udders of cows without causing any harm to them or causing them bites.

It is impossible to meet a snake in a modern city. Only if this a pet. By the way, snakes tolerate such living very well, the main thing is to properly care for them. In the future, they practically cease to be afraid of humans and can even eat from their hands without biting.

Symptoms and consequences of a bite

Despite the fact that it is a safe reptile, it can still bite.

What symptoms appear?

Basically, all signs of a bite are local, since the snake is non-venomous.

Signs:

• Bite marks
• Slight bleeding from the wound,
• Slight itching
• A small tumor may develop.

The snake's bite has been compared to a good cat bite. As a rule, all that is required after it is to treat the wound with an antiseptic and brilliant green. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that no dirt gets into the bite wound to avoid the development of inflammatory process.

If you have bitten a child, you should contact a medical facility to exclude the possibility of adverse consequences. For example, the tiger snake can be dangerous for small children and allergy sufferers.

It is also necessary to go to the hospital if the bite site is very swollen, reddened, severe itching appears, or the temperature rises.

U healthy person the consequences of bites practically do not occur. The area where the snake's teeth entered may hurt a little. In most cases, everything passes without a trace.

conclusions

Is a snake bite dangerous for humans? No, if the person is completely healthy and has no allergic reactions to anything. It is worth remembering that this snake never attacks first. If a person notices a reptile of the snake family in the forest or in the water, then he just needs to let it go quietly.

The tiger snake is dangerous, but it lives mainly in the Primorsky Territory, Japan, Far East. Its bite can cause a serious condition for a child or an allergic person.

There is no need to be afraid of snakes. However, a person cannot always determine whether a snake is poisonous or not. Snakes are often confused with vipers. It is necessary to remember the reptile and report it medical worker. In a certain situation, this will help save a person's life.

The snake's bite will not cause any particular harm to the body, but is simply unpleasant. You should carefully watch your step when walking through a forest or swampy area and do not provoke the snake. Also, don't try to catch it yourself. If you want to have such a pet at home, it is better to contact a specialist who will tell you about caring for it in order to avoid negative consequences.

• Class: Reptilia = Reptiles (Reptiles)
• Subclass: Lepidosauria = Lepidosaurs, scaly lizards
• Order: Squamata Oppel = Scaly
• Suborder: Serpentes (Ophidia) Linnaeus, 1758 = Snakes
• Family: Colubridae Cope = Colubridae

Species: Natrix natrix (Linnaeus) = Common grass snake

Common grass snakes begin mating at the end of April - May, immediately after the first spring molt. In July - August, females lay in one portion from 6 to 30 soft, parchment-coated eggs, which are often glued together like a rosary. Since eggs can easily die from drying out, female snakes lay them in moist, but well-retaining shelters: under fallen leaves, in damp moss, heaps of manure and compost, abandoned rodent holes, rotten stumps.

If there is a lack of suitable shelters, several females sometimes lay eggs in one place. Described interesting case, when over 1,200 snake eggs, arranged in several layers, were found under an old door lying in a forest clearing.

It has been established that the grass snake embryo goes through the initial stages of development in the mother’s body, therefore, in newly laid eggs, the pulsation of the embryo’s heart is noticeable even with the naked eye. Despite this, the incubation of eggs lasts about 5-8 weeks. Young snakes that have just emerged from eggs are about 15 cm in length. They immediately scatter in all directions and begin to lead an independent lifestyle. Young snakes lead a much more secretive lifestyle than adults, so they are relatively rarely seen by humans.

Common snakes leave for the winter relatively late, in October - November, when night frosts already begin. They take refuge in deep rodent burrows or cracks in the ground, under the roots of rotten trees and in other secluded places. Sometimes they overwinter alone. As a rule, common snakes overwinter in groups of several individuals together, without avoiding proximity to snakes of other species. Hibernation snakes in Eastern and Northern Europe lasts up to 8-8.5 months, and in the south of the range it is slightly less.

Awakening from hibernation occurs in March - April, when warm days snakes begin to crawl out of their winter shelters and bask in the sun for a long time. At this time, they sometimes gather into balls of many individuals together. As the temperature rises, snakes become more active and gradually creep away from their wintering places.

The diet of snakes is based on small frogs, toads and their tadpoles. Occasionally, lizards, small birds and their chicks, as well as small mammals and their newborn babies. Young snakes feed more on insects. Common snakes practically do not feed on fish, preferring tadpoles and juvenile frogs, and small fish eaten rarely and in small quantities, even in waters rich in fish.

A large snake can swallow up to 8 frogs or large tadpoles of a lake frog in one hunt. At the same time, frogs that are pursued by snakes behave in a special way. Although they could easily escape from the snake with large jumps, which is what frogs do when escaping from other enemies, here for some reason they make short and rare jumps. At the same time, they emit a different sounding cry, completely different from their usual “croaking”. This cry is more reminiscent of the plaintive bleating of a sheep. The pursuit of such a doomed frog rarely lasts long, and very soon it overtakes its victim, grabs it and immediately begins to swallow it alive. Usually he tries to grab the frog right away by the head, but often he fails, and he grabs it by the hind legs or side and begins to slowly pull it into his mouth. At the same time, the frog beats hard and constantly makes croaking sounds. If he swallows small frogs easily and quickly, then he sometimes has to spend several hours eating large individuals.

When a snake that has recently eaten is threatened deadly danger, then he usually belches, like other snakes, the swallowed prey, opening his mouth very wide if the swallowed animal was large. Cases have been described in which snakes regurgitated live frogs, and those frogs, despite having been in the snake’s throat, later turned out to be quite viable. Snakes, like other snakes, are capable of for a long time to go without food, and once he starved for more than 300 days without harming himself. But snakes drink a lot, especially on hot days.

Snakes have a lot of enemies, both among birds of prey (snake eagles, storks, kites), and among carnivorous mammals(raccoon dogs, foxes, minks, martens). Even gray rats are serious enemies of snakes, eating clutches of eggs and young snakes. Snakes always try to escape from humans, but not being able to crawl away, they sometimes take a threatening pose. Curled up in a ball, they throw their heads forward from time to time, accompanied by a loud hissing sound. Snakes bite only in extremely rare cases, only after being caught, causing light, quickly healing scratches with their teeth.

Almost the only and very effective means of protecting snakes should be considered the extremely smelly yellowish-white liquid that they release from the cloaca. The caught snake in many cases quickly stops resisting, regurgitates the recently eaten prey, if any, from the stomach, and then completely relaxes the body, opening its mouth wide and sticking out its tongue. This state of “imaginary death” quickly passes if left alone or thrown into water.

Already- a snake belonging to the class of mammals. Many of us are terribly afraid of snakes, but should we be afraid? common snake ? Is it dangerous for humans and does it have poison? Today we will answer these questions, and also touch upon the snake’s habitat and find out what it eats in nature, and we will start with its characteristics.

Description of a common snake

Snake length 1 meter, but some individuals grow up to 1.5 meters. His main and characteristic peculiarity– bright spots on the back of the head. They can be orange, yellow and whitish. Quite rarely, only black snakes or faint spots are found, so it is quite easy to recognize the snake. Leather snakes are dark gray, black or light gray in color. Gray individuals may have dark spots. Belly The snake is light with a dark stripe from tail to neck. Body of a snake slender, and on some individuals you can see paired brushes, but not on all. Eyes the snakes are round, but there are snakes with “cat eyes”. Tail much shorter than the body, about 3-5 times, with various forms– sharp, steep, rounded. Visible throughout the body scales, some individuals have smooth skin, others have noticeable ribs. The snake has teeth on the top of its mouth, several teeth increase as the throat opens, some teeth small and motionless, in others they bend, there is also a forked language. Lifespan of a common grass snake in nature about 20 years, at home the figure remains the same.

Is the common snake poisonous and is it dangerous for humans?

Generally, snakes safe for humans. They do not know how to bite, but can scratch the skin, and if there is a bite, it is insignificant. Yes and ordinary When he sees a person, he tries to hide as quickly as possible; he flees rather than attacks. But if they are caught by surprise, they hiss and turn their heads as if they want to bite, but they rarely get bitten, and the bite itself heals very quickly. Already- a calm snake, but for the purpose of protection, it can shoot a white-yellow liquid from its teeth, which has an unpleasant odor, and if it does not scare away the observer, it opens its mouth and relaxes its body, feigning death. At this moment, you can see drops of blood from the throat, or he will simply regurgitate food out of fear. But if snake don't touch it, but you won't have to see all this.

WHAT DOES THE COMMON SNACK EAT, WHERE DOES IT LIVE AND KEEPING AT HOME?

What does the common grass snake eat in nature?

Snake's main diet- amphibians and fish. It feeds on frogs, tadpoles, and toads. In addition, snakes eat lizards, their eggs, mice, rats, moles, other rodents, insects, small birds, their eggs and chicks, bats, small squirrels, and even their own kind or other snakes. Already swallows prey whole because it does not have teeth or other devices to tear prey. If the lunch is small, then he will quickly finish the meal, and if big catch, things to do for a few hours, and after such a meal you can eat nothing for two days. It can go without food for a long time, but it cannot live without water, and in hot weather it is easy to find it near bodies of water. On the land really stalks its prey, can sneak up on it for a long time in the water, and then suddenly pounce.

Habitat of the common grass snake

Snakes can be found near bodies of water, under a bridge, near a lake or pond. In addition, they like to settle next to people, choosing quiet and secluded places such as a basement, haystack, cellar, barn, in the roots or hollows of trees, in the garden, in firewood, in a pile of stones, in a vegetable garden and even in a pile of garbage . Snakes They love warm bedding and live next to poultry, laying their eggs there, but they will never go near large animals.

Habitat of the common grass snake– almost all of Russia, eastern Primorye, the borders of the Komi Republic, the border of Karelia. Almost all of Europe, and some individuals snakes found in Africa, Central, South and North America, Australia, Asia, Cuba, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Oceania.

VIDEO: ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THE COMMON SNACK

IN THIS VIDEO, YOU WILL SEE AND LEARN HOW TO CORRECTLY KEEP A COMMON SNACK AT HOME

Snake bite is a fairly common problem among tourists and nature lovers. This snake prefers rain forests, marshy areas. The reptile itself is quite peaceful and is not the first to attack humans. But if disturbed, it can bite the offender. Whether a snake has venom depends on its variety, of which there are about a dozen.

Important! It's easy to see when a snake is about to bite. She begins to hiss and sticks out her tongue. In this case, you need to move away from the snake, then it will not attack.

Why is it dangerous for humans?

Most of these snakes belong to the family of non-venomous reptiles. The only exception is the tiger snake, which lives in Korea and Japan, in the Far East of Russia. Its teeth contain a poisonous substance used to paralyze insects and rodents. For humans, the poison is less dangerous, but in susceptible people it can lead to fatal outcome. The tiger snake got its name because of its specific color - along its entire length there are stripes of dark orange color, reminiscent of the skin of a tiger.

When bitten by a poisonous snake, it is of great importance what teeth the reptile used to pierce the human skin. Largest quantity The poison is contained in the teeth located deep in the jaw.

Simple non-venomous snakes live throughout Europe and Asia, excluding the polar regions. In Russia this is one of the most common reptiles. The snake prefers to settle closer to humans, choosing damp areas. But you can often see a grass snake basking in the sun. Representatives of the Colubridae family feed on small insects and frogs.

The bite is no longer dangerous to human health, much less his life. But in some categories of people, a bite can cause unpleasant symptoms that are easily treatable.

It will be useful to know the main differences between a snake and a viper, since these snakes are very similar to each other, but can be fatal to humans:

• it already has an oval head, the viper has a triangular head;
• the scales of the viper are matte and dark, while the snake has a bright color;
• the most noticeable difference between a non-venomous snake and a poisonous one is the presence of two bright yellow or orange spots on the first’s head;
• it already reaches a meter in length, and the viper is no more than 70 cm;
• The pupils of a poisonous snake are vertical, reminiscent of a cat’s, while those of a non-venomous snake are round

A frightened snake secretes from special glands a yellow liquid with intense unpleasant smell- this is his way of protection. There are many varieties of snakes, but none of them, except the brindle, have dangerous poison. Some representatives of the colubrid family do not even know how to bite. This includes the water snake. Outwardly, it is very similar to a viper, but is not at all poisonous, and instead of teeth it has plates for grinding food.

Symptoms and consequences of a snake bite

Manifestations of a grass snake bite look like this:

• teeth marks in the form of paired dots;
• slight bleeding from the wound;
• swelling of the skin at the site of injury.

A person may experience mild pain and itching at the site of the bite. These sensations are caused by tissue irritation by snake saliva, which is ejected from the teeth when the skin is pierced. In a healthy person, symptoms after a bite last 2-3 days, then disappear.

What happens if it bites with poisonous teeth? The symptoms in this case look more serious:

• weakness;
• difficulty breathing;
• headache;
• muscle twitching;
• temperature increase;
• intense itching, severe pain at the site of the bite;
• pronounced swelling.

These symptoms are due to intoxication. The painful condition lasts longer - about 7 days.

The main danger when bitten by a snake- infection of the wound and development of inflammation in this place. If a person suffers from increased allergies, snake venom can cause angioedema or even anaphylactic shock. Lack of emergency medical care in this situation can result in death.

If a person happens to encounter poisonous snake, the symptoms will be more pronounced. Manifestations associated with blood clotting disorders come to the fore:

• severe headache develops;
• after a while nausea and vomiting appear;
• then blood appears in the vomit;
• A hemorrhagic rash forms on the legs and arms.

The condition returns to normal after 5-7 days. If a person initially had blood clotting disorders, intense bleeding may develop.

If a person does not know which snake has bitten him - poisonous or not, or whether it was a completely different reptile - he must immediately seek medical help, describing appearance snakes.

Providing first aid for a snake bite

After an attack by a snake, even a non-venomous one, a person requires first aid. It consists of carrying out the following activities:

You cannot cauterize the wound or make cross-shaped cuts on it. The snake’s saliva has already been absorbed, and these measures only contribute to the introduction of infection into the wound.

Even if a person feels well, he must be taken to the hospital for examination by qualified specialists. You should definitely seek medical help if the following symptoms develop:

• fever;
• severe fatigue;
• severe swelling of the tissue at the site of the bite;
• skin redness;
• the appearance of throbbing pain in the damaged area of ​​the body.

These are signs of an inflammatory process that has developed due to infection in the wound. If appropriate treatment is not carried out, the infection spreads through the bloodstream, and sepsis may develop.

If a viper bite occurs, you need to remove the snake venom from the wound as quickly as possible. This is done by sucking out the blood from the bite site, spitting the blood out immediately and then rinsing your mouth with water. It is recommended to apply a tourniquet to the limb above the bite site and immediately take the person to the hospital.

Treatment for a snake bite

In the hospital, the person is examined and the necessary blood tests are taken. If allergy symptoms are present, detoxification and antihistamine therapy is carried out. If there are signs of infection and inflammation of the wound, it is treated with antiseptic and antibacterial drugs are prescribed. Apply a sterile bandage.

For several days you need to treat the bite site with antiseptics and change the bandage. If necessary, damaged skin is lubricated with healing ointments.

Treatment for a viper bite requires the administration of a special serum, and this must be done as quickly as possible.

How to protect yourself from bites?

Answering the question whether snakes bite or not - they do not attack a person first, for no reason, but can bite only as a defense. Therefore, it is enough just not to tease the reptile, and then it will not cause harm. If a person walks in places with tall grass or in the swamps, he may accidentally step on this snake and then it will bite his leg in defense. To avoid this, you need to wear thick boots or boots with high tops and tuck your trousers into them.

The reptile emerges from hibernation in the spring and lays eggs in early summer. It is at this time that the likelihood of meeting a snake is highest, and females are most dangerous at this moment. Since snakes love water, you should not swim in untested bodies of water, as snakes may well settle there. Knowing how it is dangerous for humans and how to avoid its bites, you can safely go into nature.