The viper's bite: what to do?

The viper's bite is a rather dangerous phenomenon. However, with the timely detection, the right-handed first aid and hospitalization, it is not fatal. It is worth noting that the lethal outcome is most often recorded among young children.

Viper's bite: symptoms . Vipers are non-aggressive creatures and try to escape when meeting a person, they rarely attack and only if they feel threatened. Therefore, when you meet this reptile, do not go close or do sharp movements - just let it go.

As a rule, after a bite two small point wounds remain on the victim's body. In this area, almost immediately there is acute pain and begins to form edema - the poison begins to spread throughout the body. The closer the viper's bite is to the head, the more dangerous is the condition of the patient.

The poison of a viper, spreading along with the current of blood, exerts on the body both local and general action. Local reactions are severe pain, swelling of the bite area, as well as partial destruction and necrosis of tissues. As for the general effect of the poison, the injured person can complain of dizziness, nausea, weakness, vomiting, excessive excitability, dyspnea. In some cases, convulsions may begin, the activity of the cardiovascular system may be weakened, the patient may lose consciousness.

What if I was bitten by a viper? Of course, with a viper bite, you must immediately call an ambulance or take the person to the hospital. The main requirement for the injured person is to observe the maximum immovable, reclining position. It is not necessary to make sharp movements, to try to catch a bitten reptile or to go to hospital on foot. Any movement increases the blood flow, and therefore accelerates the spread of the poison.

The first help to the injured person is the sucking off of the poison. If this procedure is carried out in the first few minutes after the bite, you can remove half the poison from the body. If it gets into the mouth or stomach, this toxin does not cause any side effects. This procedure is forbidden if the person providing first aid has open wounds in the mouth or bleeding gums.

The affected part of the body (in most cases it is the leg) should be immobilized. To do this, a tire must be applied. Do not apply a tourniquet - it does not affect the spread of the poison, but worsens the bleeding in the affected limb, causing tissue necrosis.

Before coming to the hospital, you can take a pill of an antihistamine, for example, "Tavegil" or "Suprastin". Only a doctor can provide further assistance.

In any hospital there is a special serum against the venom of a viper, which is administered to the patient. This is the most effective treatment. With a strong pain syndrome, a new- cell blockade is shown . In most cases, the prognosis for a person is quite favorable - recovery occurs after 3 to 4 days.

The viper's bite: what can not be done ? As already mentioned, the viper bite is rarely fatal. But when rendering improper care, the condition of the injured person may worsen. Strange as it may seem, there are countless traditional methods of treatment, the use of which can lead to complications and even death.

For example, there is an opinion that a snake toxin can be neutralized with the help of alcohol. It is worth remembering that it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol in this state. Under the influence of alcohol, the vessels expand, and this only accelerates the absorption of the poison. And the treatment of alcoholic children can cause severe intoxication.

Do not also cauterize the injured place. First, it does not stop the spread of the 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 not also apply to the site of a bite the leaves of plants, the ground or treat it with saliva - this can cause infection.