Bite after a snake. What to do and what not to do if bitten by a snake? Specific features of poisonous snakes

Representing an independent family. They inhabit almost the entire Earth, except for Antarctica, Madagascar, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia. Therefore, it will be important for readers to know when and where a person may be threatened by a viper bite. We will also discuss the consequences of contact with a poisonous amphibian and the rules for first aid, because such information can be a good help for those going to nature.

A little about the nature of vipers

Contrary to popular belief, vipers are not aggressive and do not dream of attacking a person at all. On the contrary, when meeting with him, the first thing the viper will try to do is crawl away as far as possible.

But the habit of the mentioned reptiles to hide in hollows, grass or under hummocks, waiting for prey, often leads to the fact that careless people who find themselves in the forest disturb or frighten the snake, forcing it to defend itself. And so the number of those bitten is growing, and, by the way, according to statistics, in 70% of cases the victim himself is the culprit.

The consequences for a person can be different, while it is recorded quite rarely. Poisoning often has a mild form - the disease manifests itself in the form of a small painful swelling at the site of the bite, which after some time passes by itself. But, unfortunately, from time to time there are also serious problems caused by poisoning. It all depends on where, whom and when the viper bit. We will tell you more about this.

What does a viper look like

Lives in forests. It grows up to 75 cm, has a gray-blue or black color. And its closest relative, living in flat areas, on dry slopes overgrown with shrubs, or in clay ravines, the steppe viper, is lighter, brownish-gray with a contrasting zigzag stripe on the back. Another representative of this family, by the way, listed in the Red Book - Nikolsky's viper - is absolutely black. It is already referred to the forest-steppe snakes.

As you can see, each natural area has its own poisonous inhabitant. And, by the way, all of them are not particularly noble and do not warn the traveler of their presence, unlike, for example, the beautiful and very dangerous African noisy viper. A bite, the consequences of which are not difficult to predict, can only be obtained from it after a loud hiss and a formidable swelling of the body. And our "compatriots", frightened and deciding that there is a danger nearby, attack immediately, without unnecessary sounds.

Where can you meet a viper

When going to nature in early spring or autumn, remember that at this time of the year, vipers stay closer to their wintering grounds. As a rule, this is:

• swamp edges,
• glades,
• forest edges,
• garden plots with construction debris,
• dumps of land management works.

In summer, snakes can be anywhere, however, during the day they love places where you can bask in the sun (vipers are very thermophilic): the surface of stones, the southern slope of a ravine or the sunny edge. By the way, for the same reason, they can crawl up to your fire at night.

And in order not to have to consider the consequences of a viper bite later, a tourist should immediately take care of safety: put on high boots with thick soles on the road, tuck the legs of jeans into them (the fabric of these trousers is quite dense, so it is advisable to go on a trip in such outfit), arm yourself with a stick and it, and not with your hands, move apart heaps of leaves and dry branches, rummage through minks, hollows, or throw stones out of the way. At night, be sure to shine a flashlight under your feet. And waking up in the morning at a halt, carefully check all the bags and shoes that were left outside the tent.

The effects of a viper bite depend on the composition of its venom.

What is dangerous The fact is that it is mostly hemo- and cytotoxic. That is, as a result of its action, a deep structural and functional change occurs in blood cells or tissues, which causes their death. This effect is due to the huge amount of so-called necrotizing enzymes that is part of the poison.

But there are no neurotoxins in viper venom, due to which its effect on the nervous system is not observed. Yes, and the viper produces venom in much smaller quantities than its counterparts - asps or pit snakes. True, for a person who has suffered a viper bite, the consequences can still be quite sad, especially if he already had problems with the cardiovascular system before, or if he was given first aid incorrectly.

What is the danger of a viper bite

Despite the fact that viper bites are recorded quite often, death does not always occur - the probability is less than 1% (by the way, among those who were stung by bees, wasps or hornets, there are much more deaths). However, this is not pleasant.

But what the consequences of a bite will be depends on certain factors:

1. Viper size. It has been established that the larger the snake, the more poisonous glands it has, and, naturally, the poison is released in large volumes.
2. The weight and height of the victim. The larger the creature bitten by the snake, the less impact the poison will have. So, the consequences of a viper bite for a dog or a child will be much more serious than for an adult. The secret lies in the fact that it is absorbed faster and more completely into the body of the victim with a small volume and mass.
3. Place of bite. It is believed that bites to the neck, shoulder and chest are more dangerous than to the leg of a person or the paw of an animal.
4. The state of health of the victim. In the presence of a heart disease, there is a danger of developing shock, which can be triggered by panic and a rapid heartbeat, which quickly spreads the poison throughout the body.

Why some viper bites are "dry"

The decisive role in the severity of the consequences of the bite of a common viper is played by the amount of poison it secretes. And this directly depends on the hunting habits of the amphibian. The viper hunts only for live medium-sized prey: mice, lizards, sometimes moles. She does this swiftly, from an ambush, after which she expects the action of the poison. By the way, it should be noted that the snake spends it carefully, trying, if possible, to keep something in reserve, therefore, in some cases, its bite for a person turns out to be completely harmless (in medicine it is called “dry”).

But, since it is immediately difficult to determine the amount of poison that has entered the wound, the victim should in any case be given emergency care.

What does a viper bite look like?

It is important to know that the viper's venom is most toxic in the spring, which means that at this time of the year you should be especially careful when going camping. In addition, it does not hurt to know the main consequences of a viper bite.

1. The bite site hurts a lot.
2. The affected limb quickly swells and becomes purple-bluish with dark spots.
3. Chills, nausea, dizziness may appear.
4. In some cases, there is an increase in temperature.
5. Arterial pressure decreases.
6. In case of untimely assistance, a bite develops in the bite area.

In severe cases, the consequences of a viper bite can be expressed by a short period of agitation of the patient, which is quickly replaced by drowsiness and apathy. The victim complains of dryness and a bitter taste in the mouth, the pulse noticeably quickens, weakness, shortness of breath, and dizziness appear. In especially severe cases, collapse may develop. The functions of the kidneys and liver are disturbed, and moist rales caused by congestion are heard in the lungs.

What to do when bitten by a viper

Lay the victim so that the head is below the level of the body - this will reduce the likelihood of cerebrovascular accident. Remove all jewelry from the limb (it can swell a lot).

Press on the bite site from the sides, thus opening the wound, and within 15 minutes suck the poison with your mouth, spitting it out (this is not dangerous for the caregiver). Disinfect the wound with alcohol or iodine.

Immobilize the affected limb with a splint or bandage. Give the patient (but not coffee). Get him to the hospital as soon as possible.

What absolutely cannot be done

The consequences after the bite of a viper at all times frightened people so much that in order to get rid of troubles they came up with many completely useless procedures that not only are not able to alleviate the patient's condition, but can even harm. So remember what not to do when bitten by a snake.

1. In no case do not apply a tourniquet! This is useless, and besides, poison is already destructive to the tissues of the body, and if you add a tourniquet that interferes with blood circulation, you can achieve their necrosis within a few minutes. And after removing the tourniquet, the decay products formed as a result of this will aggravate the already existing poisoning.
2. Do not cauterize the bite! You will add a burn to an existing wound, and it is absolutely meaningless.
3. Do not cut the wound - it is useless, but the infection does not sleep.
4. Do not give the patient alcohol - this will help the poison spread throughout the body even faster.
5. Do not cover the wound with earth, do not apply cobwebs or grass to it - except for tetanus, you will not get anything from such procedures.

Let's talk now about the viper's bite and what first aid should be for such a bite. First of all, to be honest, I have never been bitten by a viper (so far). Unfortunately (on the other hand, fortunately), I personally know people who have suffered from a viper bite. Unfortunately, because there is nothing pleasant about it. Fortunately, because they are alive and well. And even more: their immunity after a bite gains some resistance to possible subsequent bites.

Viper bite. How it happens

There is usually no reason for a viper to bite a human. The snake is small (compared to others, for example, with a gyurza), and the person is large. Vipers bite either at the moment of dangerous proximity of a person, when he accidentally steps on or touches the snake with his hands. Or when a person gets into the nesting place of the viper, and she protects the territory. The first option is much more common. The second usually happens in the spring, during the breeding season.

Conclusion from the above: In order not to be bitten by a viper, it is necessary to be careful and attentive in places where vipers live. Whatever they write, usually the viper warns of its presence by hissing. Hissing is not an attempt to bite. It's like the words "careful, I'm here." If you leave the viper alone, or even start playing with it with a long (not short!) Stick, it will certainly tend to crawl away.

But, if you touch the viper with your hand or foot (without a rubber boot), the result will be an almost lightning-fast bite.

Viper bite. First aid

Much depends on the size of the viper. The larger it is, the more poison will enter the wound. The more the bite will hurt.

What to do with a viper bite:

1. Do not apply a tourniquet. It's just not possible, that's all. Otherwise, tissue will die. You can not cauterize the wound, cut it and bleed. Viper venom spreads very quickly throughout the body. It is necessary to help the body cope with the received dose of poison as quickly as possible, and for this, the first thing to do is to reduce this amount as much as possible.

2. If possible, you must immediately remove some of the poison from the wound. Mouth, glass (as when placing cans on the back), in any way. It will not be possible to remove all the poison in this way, but even some of the poison, if removed, will affect the recovery process. It is clear that it is not difficult to independently remove part of the poison by mouth from the upper limbs. If you bite in the legs, you will have to use the same glass (or something similar) or ask someone for help. In any case, it is advisable to do this in the first 10 minutes after the bite.

3. If it is possible to contact the first-aid post and get help, then this should be done within 30-60 minutes after the bite. An antidote called Antiviper is introduced, which neutralizes the effect of the poison. If the antidote is introduced later, it will not help much.

4. If a bitten person does not have the opportunity to seek medical help, then, in principle, you can lie down at home. Without a doubt, the bitten limb will swell quickly. If the portion of the poison was large, and it was not possible to remove part of the poison, the edema can also go to the trunk. You also need to be prepared for the appearance of quite severe pain at the site of the bite. These are all the rules of the game. This is what happens after a bite.

5. If possible, take a Suprastin tablet to suppress possible allergic reactions after a bite.

6. Take a horizontal position, raising your legs above head level. It is desirable to maintain maximum immobility. This will make it easier for the body to fight the poison.

7. Plentiful sweet drink is desirable. You can't take alcohol. The body already has something to neutralize.

8. If it was possible to seek medical help, you need to understand that a person bitten by a viper will most likely be placed in a hospital for up to a week. Usually they put a dropper, which facilitates the process of processing the poison.

9. At home, it is also necessary to rest for several days until swelling and redness subside.

10. When bitten by a swamp viper (common), the lethality is usually less than 1 percent. But bites to the neck, bites of young children and people with severely weakened immune systems remain severe. In these cases, urgently deliver the bitten person to a medical facility.

The bite of poisonous snakes is hard to miss - after a few minutes, a person, as a rule, begins to experience quite severe pain. The symptoms of a viper bite differ little from those of other venomous snake bites, but there are still some differences.

Viper snake bite - symptoms and signs

Symptoms of a viper bite in humans can be different and depend on such indicators:

1. The amount of poison injected. In 25% of cases, a person does not receive poison at all when bitten, in 60% of cases the snake injects a rather small, non-life-threatening dose of the active substance.
2. The age and health of the victim. Old people and children usually tolerate the bite worse. Also at risk are those who are prone to cardiovascular and neurotic diseases, allergy sufferers, people who have recently undergone surgery and severe systemic diseases. Any chronic disease from snake venom can worsen.
3. Bite sites. The defeat of the limbs practically does not pose a serious threat to health. A bite to the neck, head, or abdomen requires immediate hospitalization.

Vipers are very cautious animals, they prefer to avoid human contact and almost never attack first. Because of this, most bites occur through negligence, or inattention: in a situation where a person did not notice a snake and stepped on it in tall grass, crushed a viper that climbed into a backpack or clothes folded on the ground. Symptoms after a viper bite first appear in the affected area:

• feeling of prick;
• a reddish trace from 2 poisonous teeth (in difficult cases - 4);
• after 15 minutes - the appearance of severe pain at the site of the bite and around it;
• swelling;
• tissue redness;
• bruising;
• after a few hours, bruising and blisters with pus may appear.

In addition, there are signs of toxic poisoning:

• weak rapid pulse;
• dizziness and nausea;
• spasms;
• temperature rise;
• enlargement and soreness of the lymph nodes;
• respiratory failure.

What are the symptoms of a viper bite in animals?

Many animals are not sensitive to snake venom at all, but there are also categories for which the bite of a viper is deadly. These are small rodents, dogs and cats. Symptoms in cattle when bitten by a steppe viper do not always appear due to the large mass of these animals. You should not worry too much if a cow is bitten by a snake, most likely, in a couple of days the animal will fully recover. It may fall on its side for a while, but this does not always happen. But the goat may need a longer period. In general, with strong doses of poison, the manifestations of the bite will be the same as in humans. It is important to remember that the milk of a bitten animal should not be consumed, but should be milked several times a day.

Snakes are distributed on all continents of the globe. In total, there are about 3,500 of their species, more than 300 of them are classified as poisonous. 11 species of these poisonous reptiles live in Russia, but death from a snakebite is a rather rare case, since the most dangerous representatives of the fauna live in hot countries.

The most common type of venomous snake in our country is the common viper. Its range is very wide and captures not only the territory of Russia, but also the countries of Europe and Asia. In general, in terms of poisonous snakes, our country is a safe place. Often when traveling abroad, to countries with a tropical climate, this fact plays a cruel joke with our compatriots. People who are not accustomed to being afraid of representatives of the fauna behave incorrectly and can get seriously poisoned by the poison of animals, including snakes. How to recognize poisonous snakes and what to do in case of a bite - we will talk about this in this article.

Poisonous snakes of Russia

The following species are most common in our country:

Common viper. It lives in the European part of Russia, in Siberia and the Far East. It is very demanding on the biotope - it needs forest and forest-steppe zones where you can bask in the sun and hide in the undergrowth. It occurs along the banks of rivers and lakes, on the edge of swamps, in glades and in mixed forests. The body of the snake is thick, up to 75 cm long, females are larger than males. The head is triangular, the pupil is vertical, on the front edge of the upper jaw there are large poisonous teeth 4–5 mm long. The color of the snake varies from gray to red-brown, a zigzag dark stripe on the back is characteristic, but completely black vipers are also found. Vipers bite defensively, while taking a characteristic throwing position and hissing. She makes a throw to a small height - 10–15 cm, so that high boots or rubber boots can well protect against a bite. Viper venom has the ability to cause hemorrhages, increases blood clotting and causes local necrotic reactions.

Steppe viper. It differs from the common viper in its habitat - it is common in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Europe, Kazakhstan, Moldova, southern Ukraine, China, Iran and Turkey. The size of the snake is not more than 50 cm, the color is brown or gray, there is a dark zigzag on the back, dark spots can be distinguished on the sides. No cases of human death after a bite of a steppe viper have been recorded - mostly livestock suffer from it.

Caucasian viper. It looks like a steppe viper, but is somewhat larger and has a characteristic bright color - yellow-orange or brick, with a dark stripe on the ridge. It lives in the Krasnodar Territory, in the South Caucasus and in North-Eastern Turkey. It can be found in mountainous areas in forest and meadow belts. There are isolated cases of people dying from the bites of this snake.

Common muzzle. This snake belongs to the pit-headed family. You can meet her in Southern Siberia and the Volga region. The body of this reptile is up to 70 cm long, gray or brown in color, dark wide transverse spots are located on the back. The head is covered with large shields. The bite of the muzzle is painful, accompanied by edema and circulatory disorders. Damage to the kidneys and spleen, internal hemorrhages are possible. Despite these severe symptoms, no deaths have been reported after a cottonmouth bite.

On the territory of the former Soviet republics, you can find several more types of poisonous snakes.

Exotic venomous snakes

Shchitomordnik, living on the territory of Russia, is a representative of pit vipers, or rattlesnakes. Among the southern species of rattlesnakes found in the southern United States, there are very poisonous ones in Central and South America. For example, dwarf rattlesnakes and Brazilian rattlesnakes. A rattlesnake bite is 75% fatal.

The hairpin snake lives in Africa, the venom of which consists of many toxins and has not yet been fully studied. The bite of a hairpin snake is dangerous to humans and animals and causes severe pain, constriction of blood vessels, and a heart attack. The bite site swells, hematomas and tissue necrosis develop.

viper bite

Since the main danger in the conditions of our country comes from viper snakes, we will consider the issues of first aid and treatment using the example of a common viper bite.

Symptoms of a bite from this snake will be as follows.

The consequence of a viper bite can be the necrosis of tissues at the site of the bite and the further development of necrosis and gangrene. With the wrong assistance, there is a serious danger of losing a bitten finger or even a limb.

Can a snake bite in water? Maybe, but, as a rule, vipers live far enough from the water and find themselves in it only when crossing to the other side. If a snake bit you in the water, then most likely it is already. Another thing is snakes in tropical countries. In the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific basins, there are many sea snakes, and all of them are poisonous to one degree or another.

First aid for a snake bite

What to do if bitten by a snake? The victim must be given first aid or self-help if there are no other people nearby. First aid for a snake bite is as follows:

• take measures so that the snake does not bite again;
• if the bite fell on the hand - remove rings, bracelets, etc., so that the tissues are not squeezed during edema;
• within 15–20 minutes, suck blood from the wound, periodically spitting out the contents;
• if the bite site is not available for self-suction, then you can do this with a syringe by cutting off its nose;
• treat the wound with any antiseptic - alcohol, iodine, brilliant green;
• provide the victim with peace so that the poison does not spread quickly and the body has time to fight it;
• Drinking plenty of water will help detoxify the body.

Treatment

There is a specific antidote for snakebite - a therapeutic serum obtained by hyperimmunization of horses. Each type of snake has its own serum. In Russia, you can buy serum from the poison of the common viper, sandy efa and gyurza. It should be noted that a doctor should use the serum, since, being a biological product, it can cause allergic reactions, up to anaphylactic shock.

In addition to the administration of antidote serum, snakebite treatment is symptomatic. It is necessary to drink plenty of fluids to speed up the excretion of poison by the kidneys. To prevent allergic reactions, take a pill "Suprastin", "Diphenhydramine" or another antihistamine. If necessary, the doctor prescribes supportive cardiac and pain medications.

What not to do when bitten by a snake

Can a tourniquet be used after a venomous snake bite? This stereotype has developed on the basis of information about the bites of snakes with nerve-paralytic venom - for example, cobras. In cases with bites of vipers and rattlesnakes, the application of a tourniquet is not only useless, but also extremely harmful. Firstly, viper venom spreads very quickly through the bloodstream, and secondly, tissue injury will only exacerbate necrotic changes at the bite site.

What else not to do with a snake bite:

• cauterize the bite site;
• take alcohol;
• cut or cut the skin at the site of the bite.

With the development of a general allergic reaction, the victim must be urgently taken to the hospital.

Bites from non-venomous snakes

Sometimes a person is bitten by a non-venomous snake. Is there any reason for concern in this case? Yes, but only if you have confused a non-venomous snake with a poisonous one. On the territory of Russia, copperheads and snakes are very often suspicious.

Already differs from the viper in black and orange spots on the back of the head and the absence of a zigzag stripe on the back. You can confuse the snake with a rare black viper. The head of the snake is oval, while that of the viper is oval-triangular. The scales of the snake glisten in the sun, while the scales of the viper are matte. Snakes live mainly near water bodies. The snake bite is not so painful and does not cause severe swelling and hemorrhages.

Copperhead is not poisonous. This snake up to 70 cm long, gray or brown, lives in almost the entire European part of Russia. Its saliva is toxic, but the bite of the copperfish is dangerous only for its prey - lizards and other small vertebrates, since the snake's teeth are located in such a way that it is not able to bite a person.

Those who keep exotic snakes at home should be aware of boa constrictor bites. Boas are rather peaceful snakes, but in case of danger they can attack and bite. The bites of large individuals are quite painful, but not poisonous. The wound must be treated with an antiseptic so as not to infect - and the incident will remain without consequences.

What to do if a snake has bitten a child

If a child is bitten by a snake, then do not panic. It is necessary to calm the baby, take off his shoes or roll up his sleeves, depending on the site of the bite. Wash the bite site with laundry soap and treat with an antiseptic. Provide your baby with plenty of fluids, preferably something with a diuretic effect - black tea, herbal decoctions. Give an antihistamine to prevent an allergic reaction. If the child is not vaccinated against tetanus, then it is necessary to give an injection of tetanus toxoid.

Try to remember the snake, call an ambulance and describe its appearance. If the child is less than three years old, or the bite fell on the neck, face area - immediately seek medical help, even if you are sure that the snake is not poisonous.

Let's summarize all of the above. A small number of poisonous snakes live on the territory of Russia, there are practically no deaths from their bites. The most dangerous is the bite of the common viper. Risk factors - childhood, diseases of the cardiovascular system, allergies to snake venom, bites in the neck and head. First aid consists in suctioning the poison from the wound, disinfecting the bite site and taking the victim to the hospital, where he will be given an antidote - a specific serum. For several days, you need to stay in bed and drink plenty of fluids to speed up the removal of toxins from the body. In severe cases, supportive therapy may be needed - anti-shock, cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory. The effects of a snakebite usually go away within a week. A complication may be impaired kidney function or infection of the wound at the site of the bite.

The common viper (Vipera berus) is the most common venomous snake in central Russia. After wintering, vipers appear on the surface of the earth usually in April - May. In summer, the burrows of various animals, voids in rotten stumps and between stones, bushes, last year's packed grass, and hay serve as shelters for vipers. You can also encounter a viper at the water's edge, as these snakes are good swimmers. Vipers can settle in abandoned buildings, under a pile of old building materials.

The color of the viper can be very different. On the background (gray or other tones), a strip stretches along the back, which usually looks like a zigzag, but sometimes with even edges. Maybe a viper and pure black.

Risk zones

In the middle lane, cold-blooded vipers are active during the daytime. They like to bask in the sun, and they can do it right on the path, on stumps, bumps and stone slabs. On warm summer nights, snakes are active and can crawl to the fire.

When meeting a person, a snake, as a rule, tries to crawl away. Approaching steps of the snake (deaf) perceive through the vibrations of the ground. Fluctuations almost do not spread over soft peat litter or dug up soil, and the viper sometimes does not have time to hide in advance.

A snake taken by surprise takes up an active defense: hissing, making threatening throws and, finally, biting throws, to which it is provoked by the movement of a threat object. Therefore, it is better not to make sudden movements during a direct meeting with a viper, and certainly you should not try to get to know it better.

One way or another, only in the European part of Russia, several thousand bites of a person by a viper are recorded annually.

What happens when you bite?

The closer the bite is to the head, the more dangerous it is. At the site of a viper bite, and this is usually a limb, there are two point wounds from the snake's poisonous teeth. The bite immediately causes severe increasing pain.

In spring, viper venom is more toxic than in summer. It contains neurotropic cytotoxins, that is, it affects nerve cells. Other components of viper venom cause a number of blood clotting disorders, as well as tissue necrosis.

A local reaction begins in the very first minutes after the snake attack: the bitten part of the body turns red, becomes hot, edema spreads upward from the bite site, that is, the limb increases in volume.

The general reaction usually develops in 15-20 minutes, but may occur immediately. It starts to hurt and feel dizzy, lethargy, nausea (sometimes vomiting), it becomes hard to breathe, the heart is pounding. Clouding of consciousness for those bitten by a viper is not typical, but still the victim may look inhibited, “drunk”.

What to do?

The poison should be sucked out only when there is no chance for medical assistance in the coming hours, that is, on serious long trips. According to numerous data, in all other situations, much more damage to the health of the victim is caused by incorrect actions in first aid, and not by the snake bite itself.

When bitten by a viper, you should immediately go to the doctor (or call an ambulance). On the way, it is very important that the bitten part of the body remains motionless and does not work. Movement accelerates the flow of poison into the body. The limb can be fixed with a scarf, ordinary sticks.

The victim should remain calm, not make unnecessary movements and drink a lot (but not immediately, preferably in small portions, up to about three liters, preferably plain water or juices, soda). You can take 1-2 tablets of allergy medication, such as Suprastin, Tavegil. Nothing else should be done on the way to the doctor.

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed. In no case is it allowed to cauterize the bite site, cut the wound, introduce potassium permanganate or any other substances into it. Do not apply a tourniquet to a bitten limb. All the "folk" remedies mentioned in this paragraph will not stop the spread of poison throughout the body, but can significantly aggravate both local and general manifestations of poisoning.

Extreme lovers: how to suck out poison

If medical attention is not available, you can try to suck the poison. Suction should be started immediately, after 3-5 minutes it is almost useless. This can be done by those who were nearby, and the victim himself.

First you need to gather the skin around the bite into a fold and squeeze to open the wounds, until droplets of blood appear. Suction should be done with short, sharp movements. The contents of the wounds (bloody fluid) must be spit out. It should be continued for 10-15 minutes (at the first sign of edema - stop, since the poison has already been absorbed into the surrounding tissues and it is impossible to remove it). In total, from a third to a half of the poison can be removed.

It should be noted that in field conditions it is not possible to incise the bite site without introducing an infection (including deadly tetanus!) into the wound, so this should not be done.

If there are no open wounds in the mouth, this procedure is safe for the sucker, since the poison that has got into the stomach, despite spitting, is digested and loses its activity. However, the mouth should then be rinsed with water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. It should also, as in any similar situation, be aware of the danger of transmitting various infections through blood or saliva.

At the doctor

In any village medical station, in any city hospital and polyclinic, in the city and rural "Ambulance" for those bitten by a viper, there is a special serum "Anti-Viper". Its components neutralize snake venom.

Serum does not act instantly, it may take several hours to relieve the condition. The victim should spend this time in the ward, under the supervision of a medical worker, at rest. It is likely that, in addition to the serum, other drugs will be required to correct the symptoms that the poison has already caused.

The doctor will treat the bite site with iodine, close the wounds with a sterile bandage to avoid secondary infection. The bite site does not require any special further care.

With timely treatment, after 5-6 days, and often earlier, all discomfort will completely disappear. During recovery, you should observe a sparing regimen and follow the doctor's recommendations.

For a person old enough and healthy enough to walk in the forest, the bite of an ordinary viper is not fatal. However, in case of untimely or incorrect treatment, severe complications can develop, up to chronic renal failure.

How to avoid a viper bite?

Going to places where a meeting with vipers is possible, you must have appropriate clothing and shoes. Protect against snake bites: high boots; thick woolen socks; tight, body-hugging trousers tucked into shoes. When picking mushrooms and berries, it is better to push the grass with a long stick, and if you intend to pay special attention to an overgrown tussock, poke it with a stick before putting your hands in it.