What to do if bitten by a poisonous snake. Consequences of a viper bite for humans What happens after a snake bite

The viper is one of the most common snakes, but it is poisonous and its venom can cause harm. Vipera berus, or the common viper, usually appears in April after wintering; the main refuges are haystacks, grass, places near bushes or stones, cavities in rotten stumps. Vipers are often encountered near water, as this snake is an excellent swimmer.

When a snake meets a person, it tries to hide; it will never attack just like that. The reptile’s hearing is poor; it “hears” footsteps by vibrations in the ground long before approaching. But on soft soil or in peat bogs, sounds travel poorly and the snake simply does not have time to crawl away in time. You can accidentally step on a sleeping reptile basking in the sun on hot stones or sand. Therefore, when on vacation, it is recommended to be careful and look for snakes in the grass.

The viper's venom is not fatal, but after a bite you should consult a doctor to rule out complications. The specialist should be told which snake bit so that the correct serum can be administered. It is not difficult to distinguish a viper from others; it is a light gray reptile with a thin zigzag stripe along its back. Sometimes there are black snakes, but they are still different from others.

Bite risk area

It is impossible to die from a viper bite; as mentioned above, the venom of this reptile is not fatal. But this does not mean that after a bite you can do nothing. Once in the body, the substance has a hemolytic effect on it, swelling, soreness, and numerous small hemorrhages appear. Also among the consequences are hemorrhages in the internal organs, and complications include vascular thrombosis.

At the site of the bite, two deep wounds from the teeth are visible, the blood is baked quickly, that is, there is no bleeding. The following symptoms are observed:

• the appearance of tissue swelling;
• the skin around the wounds acquires a blue tint, small hemorrhages appear;
• if the hands are affected, the fingers stop bending, the swelling spreads to the elbow;
• the general condition may worsen, so it is better for the bitten person not to move much, drink more and not move the affected limb.

Despite the fact that the poison is not fatal, inaction or incorrect first aid can still cause death. This is not due to the effect of the poison itself, but to complications against which no action was taken in time.

Most often, people suffer from viper bites in nature, in places near water, in thickets of thick grass. This snake is most active during the day; it loves to bask in the sun, so it can crawl onto paths and stones, and lie on stumps. On summer nights, such snakes often crawl out to warm themselves by the fire, so tourists and vacationers should be careful about the safety of their overnight stay.

It is not difficult to notice the reptile; it immediately takes a protective pose, rises, makes feint throws and hisses. But this does not mean that the snake will definitely bite - if you do not make sudden movements and do not disturb it, the viper will simply crawl away.

What happens when a snake bites you?

A reptile bite is painful, but you can recover from it in just a couple of days, usually in 4-5 days. To ensure that the poison enters the body without consequences, you should remember the following recommendations:

1. The most dangerous bites are closer to the head. The poison quickly affects the nervous system, causing severe, rapidly increasing pain. Therefore, in case of such lesions, you should immediately contact any medical institution where an injection of a special serum will be given.
2. The most toxic is the spring poison, which contains neurotropic cytotoxins. In addition to damage to nerve cells, tissue necrosis and blood clotting disorders are observed.
3. The poison spreads quickly, within 20 minutes it affects the entire body. Among the most pronounced symptoms are respiratory failure, dizziness, tachycardia, nausea, and general lethargy. The person usually appears drunk and sluggish.

Despite the fact that the bleeding stops immediately, and at first the symptoms are almost not felt, the person who has been bitten should be taken to the doctor within the next half hour. In this case, there will be enough serum to neutralize all the poison that has entered the body. But in some cases, additional measures will be required to eliminate damage to the circulatory and nervous systems and normalize blood pressure. The patient must be under the supervision of a doctor for a certain time, otherwise dangerous complications such as respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, and disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system may develop. The result of inaction can be death. But it should be remembered that death is not caused by the poison itself, but by the wrong actions of the bitten person and those around him.

What to do if bitten by a viper?

Viper venom is not fatal, but this does not mean that nothing will happen after the bite. It should be neutralized and removed from the body as quickly as possible, for which special vaccines and other drugs are used. According to many data, the negative consequences of a bite are usually observed with incorrect actions. If first aid is not provided in a timely manner, the consequences can be dire, although not fatal.

First aid for a viper bite includes the following actions:

1. You can only suck out the poison in the first couple of minutes, after which it is useless.
2. You cannot make incisions at the site of the bite; the limb should simply be fixed and kept motionless until you see a doctor.
3. You should quickly consult a doctor to get a serum injection.
4. The patient should not move or walk all the time before visiting the doctor, as this seriously worsens the condition.
5. You need to drink more, but not right away, but in small portions, the total amount is up to three liters (instead of water, you can give soda or regular juices).
6. You can give 1-2 tablets of any remedy for an allergic reaction, for example, Tavegil or Suprastin.

Do not use medications other than those indicated. You should also not cauterize or cut the wound, apply tourniquets, or actively move the injured limb. “Folk” methods are also prohibited, which will not bring relief, but can seriously worsen the situation.

Is it possible to suck out poison?

The consequences of a bite can be quite dangerous, causing various chronic diseases. The vaccine will help prevent such complications, but professional help is not always available. In the first 3-5 minutes immediately after the bite, you can avoid negative consequences if you try to suck out the poison from the wound. It is useless to do this in the future, since it will already have time to spread throughout the body through the bloodstream.

This can only be done if there are no wounds or other injuries on the lips or mouth. Before you start sucking out the poison, you need to squeeze the skin around the wound and squeeze out a couple of drops of blood. After this, you can begin to remove the poison by sucking it out with sharp, short movements. The bloody liquid should be spat out immediately, this way you will be able to remove about half of the poison that comes from the bite. You can continue removal for up to 15 minutes, then you no longer need to suck out the poison, the main amount will be removed in the first couple of minutes. Also, the procedure is stopped if the first signs of edema appear in a person, this means that the poison can only be neutralized with serum.

Is it safe to suction venom? If a person does not have any wounds in his mouth, then the procedure will pass without a trace - the components of viper venom are easily digested and eliminated from the body. But it is still recommended to rinse your mouth, for which a weak solution of potassium permanganate is suitable.

Medical assistance

If you are bitten by a viper, you must consult a doctor; usually any clinic has a special serum called “Anti-viper”. This remedy neutralizes snake venom, but it does not act instantly; it usually takes several hours. All this time you must remain calm and be under the supervision of specialists. In some cases, additional medications may need to be administered to relieve symptoms that may have been caused by the poison. This situation is rare, but it is better to prevent it immediately.

In addition to administering the serum, the following actions will be taken:

1. The bite site is treated with regular iodine.
2. A sterile bandage is applied to protect against infection.
3. A doctor's supervision is required for several days.

Usually, after 5-6 days, all negative consequences disappear, but only with timely assistance from a doctor. When the serum is quickly administered, the symptoms disappear in just a couple of days, leaving no traces.

If a viper bites you, the main thing is not to panic; timely help will save you from many problems. Complications include kidney failure and other chronic diseases.

You can avoid bites; to do this, when planning to visit parks and other places where vipers live, you need to take care of appropriate clothing. These are thick, high shoes, for example, boots, thick woolen socks, non-tight trousers made of thick fabric that can be tucked into boots. If this does not help, if you are bitten, you should immediately call a doctor, and then go to the nearest clinic. The affected area should remain motionless, as any movement accelerates the spread of poison throughout the body. A good solution would be to secure the limb with sticks or a regular scarf, if you have them at hand.

Many of us like to spend our free time actively: organizing overnight hikes in the forest, going to conquer mountains, swimming in reservoirs. Active recreation not only gives unforgettable emotions and encounters with beautiful landscapes, but danger can await a person - vipers, which are also part of nature. Are you ready to meet them?

General information about the viper

The viper family includes 58 species. Snakes live in Europe, Asia and Africa. All representatives of the viper family are poisonous and dangerous to humans. They mainly lead a terrestrial lifestyle. The exceptions are:

The most numerous types of vipers are:

• steppe viper. The top of the snake is brown-gray in color, with a dark stripe running along the body. Lives in the steppes. The snake is small, has short fangs, and injects a small amount of venom into the victim. No deaths have been recorded after being bitten by this viper. It lives in the steppes of Western Europe, in the forest-steppe regions of southern Russia, in the Caucasus, and is found in Crimea;
• Caucasian viper. A distinctive feature is its bright color. Color varies from yellowish-orange to brick red. The snake is not large, rarely grows to 60 cm in length. Only isolated cases of death from its bite are known. Distributed in the regions of the Western Caucasus and Transcaucasia, found in Eastern Turkey. In the northern direction it lives on the territory of the Krasnodar Territory;
• long-nosed viper. It got its name due to the presence of a soft spike at the tip of its muzzle, shaped like a nose. It lives in the northeast of Italy, in the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, in Yugoslavia, Romania, in the regions of Asia Minor, in the mountains of Armenia and Georgia;
• noisy viper. The snake is large, with a thick body, reaching 1.5 meters in length. When an enemy is close, it emits a very loud hissing sound. The probability of death from a bite is 15–20%. Distributed throughout Africa;
• Gaboon viper. It has a thick body and grows up to 2 meters in length. The color of the snake is variegated and spectacular. The different colors form a clear geometric pattern on the surface of the snake. The snake is very calm and rarely attacks people. However, the bite of this viper almost always ends in the death of the victim: the snake has long fangs, which leads to the rapid penetration of poison into the body. Lives in Liberia, South Sudan, Angola;
• common viper. It comes in gray and brown colors, with a dark stripe visible along the body. Fatalities after being bitten by this snake are rare. Distributed throughout Eurasia.

Photo gallery: representatives of the viper family

The common viper has a simple color. Various colors form a geometric pattern on the back of the Gaboon viper. The Caucasian viper is brightly colored. The snake has a powerful and thick body. The steppe viper is a small snake. The soft spike at the tip of the viper’s muzzle is similar to the nose.

People often mistake the common viper for a snake. External signs of a snake that distinguish it from a viper:

• there is no dark stripe along the ridge;
• uniform coloring;
• Below the head is a yellow collar.

The snake's distinctive feature is its bright yellow collar.

Unlike the viper, it is not poisonous.

The common viper can be found in many places:

• on forest edges;
• in the forest and spruce forest;
• in a mixed forest with abundant grass cover;
• in the forest-steppe zone;
• on the banks of rivers and lakes;
• in the meadows;
• in rural gardens.

In summer, snakes make their nests in abandoned burrows of other animals, among large stones, under haystacks, and in rotten stumps. They can be forced to leave their home either by human intervention or by lack of food. Snakes hunt at night: they catch small rodents and birds. During the day they sleep in the nest or crawl out to bask in the sun, lying on paths, stumps, and stones. In winter they hibernate, which ends at the end of April.

Why does a snake bite a person?

The snake has no reason to attack. The viper is not aggressive and, when it encounters a person, crawls away. A snake bites if it feels threatened - this happens when a person accidentally steps on it or invades its habitat. Vipers live in groups, choosing places suitable for wintering. In such areas, the number of snakes can exceed 90 individuals per 1 hectare. When entering places where vipers accumulate, a person is exposed to increased danger.

Vipers hibernate in groups

Feeling a threat, the viper first hisses, rises above the ground, and scares the person with threatening throws. If a person makes sudden movements, the snake attacks.

Before attacking, the viper scares the victim

The viper has large fangs in its mouth. The poisonous gland is located above the upper jaw and is connected to it by an arcuate duct. This shape of the duct makes it possible to rotate the jaw, while the venom flows to the fangs without obstacles. When bitten, the temporal muscles located near the poisonous glands actively contract; the poison enters the person subcutaneously, intramuscularly or through a vascular canal. Upon penetration into a vessel, it spreads throughout the body instantly. The amount of poison is small, the snake uses it sparingly: it will take a long time to create a new portion.

In the viper's mouth there are two poisonous fangs, which the snake plunges into the victim.

Viper venom belongs to the group of hemovasotoxic poisons that can damage small vessels, destroy red blood cells and impair blood clotting. A snake bite is most dangerous in the spring: the venom contains more toxins than at other times. According to statistics, 1% of victims, most often small children, die from viper bites.

Vipers are excellent swimmers, so you can also find them in the water.

Vipers are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances through water.

Snake bites in water are rare. Vipers settle at a decent distance from the water and end up in it, crossing to the other side. The viper's maneuverability in water is higher than that of a human; when threatened, the snake will try to swim away quickly.

Symptoms of a viper bite

The severity of symptoms from a viper bite depends on factors:

• body weight of the victim. The less a person weighs, the more pronounced the symptoms after a bite. Therefore, small children suffer it more severely than adults;
• localization of wounds from snake teeth. Bites to a blood vessel, the surface of the head and neck pose a particular threat;
• air temperature. At high temperatures, intoxication of the body occurs more actively;
• amount of poison. A viper bite can occur without injection of poison if the viper has recently sunk its teeth into a person or animal and a new portion of poison has not yet been produced.

Local symptoms:

Common signs of a snake bite:

• weakness throughout the body;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• tachycardia;
• nausea;
• vomit.

If a child is bitten or the venom of a viper gets into a vessel, the symptoms appear quickly and are severe:

• the motor function of the bitten limb is impaired;
• paralysis spreads to the entire body, affecting the facial muscles;
• breathing becomes intermittent and heavy;
• swallowing function decreases;
• heart function is disrupted;
• uncontrolled urination is observed.

First aid

Actions to take when bitten by a viper:

1. Immediately go to the hospital or call an ambulance.
2. Try to suck out the poison. This action gives results within 10-15 minutes after the snake bite, before swelling appears. The latter indicates that the poison has spread to the surrounding tissues and there is no point in continuing the procedure. The skin around the wound is folded and squeezed so that drops of blood appear. The sucked liquid is immediately spat out. The person sucking out the poison must rinse his mouth with a disinfectant solution after the procedure. If there is no antiseptic, use water to rinse.
3. Treat the bite site with hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine or another antiseptic.
4. Immobilize the bitten part of the body: with activity, the spread of poison throughout the body accelerates. If the bite is made in the hand, the limb is fixed in a bent position. If the bite is made in the leg, then it is tied to the second lower limb, and the victim is laid so that the legs are above the level of the pelvis. This pose stabilizes blood circulation.
5. Apply a loose bandage to the wound. Use a bandage or clean cloth.
6. To reduce swelling, periodically apply cold to the wound; the best option is ice. Every 5–7 minutes, the cold is removed from the bite site to avoid frostbite of the limb.
7. The victim needs to drink a lot: about 3 liters of liquid. Use water, juices, soda.
8. If possible, take an antihistamine: Zyrtec, Suprastin, Tavegil, Fenkarol.

Before receiving medical help, it is prohibited:

• use alcohol to treat the wound;
• apply a tourniquet (tight bandage) to the surface of the bite. This will provoke necrosis of the limb;
• cut the wound yourself to release the poison. There is a high probability of infection;
• apply earth or grass to the wound. There is a risk of contracting tetanus;
• the victim should drink alcohol, which increases intoxication of the body and reduces the effect of the anti-snake serum.

Video: how to behave correctly if bitten by a viper

Medical care in hospital

In the hospital, treatment of a viper bite occurs according to a certain scheme:

1. Serum is injected.
2. Infusion of glucose, Ringer's, and sodium chloride solutions is used to eliminate toxins from the body.
3. Diuretics are prescribed (Furosemide, Trifas).
4. The victim is given an antihistamine to take orally or administered intramuscularly, if this is not done before arriving at the hospital.
5. A tetanus vaccination is given regardless of whether the person has been vaccinated regularly or not.
6. Glucocorticoids (Dexamethasone, Prednisol) are prescribed, which have anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects.
7. To avoid a purulent process in the body, broad-spectrum antibiotics (Cefotaxime, Cefepime) are used.
8. For preventive purposes, in order to prevent liver and kidney failure, hepatoprotectors (Berlition, Gepadif) are prescribed.
9. In case of severe intoxication of the body, hemodialysis is performed.
10. For symptoms of heart failure, Cordiamine and Caffeine are used.
11. In case of excessive bleeding, blood transfusions are used.
12. If the victim begins to have convulsions, calcium gluconate is administered intravenously.

When bitten by a viper, Serum is used against the venom of the common viper. It must be administered within a few hours after the snake bite. The serum contains antibodies that can neutralize snake venom. The antidote is based on horse serum. It is important to pay attention to some points:

• The serum is used only for a viper bite; if a person has been injured by other snakes, the antidote will not work. It is also prohibited to administer serums intended to neutralize the venom of other types of snakes when bitten by a viper. Previously, Antigyurza serum was used in hospitals, but its action was not always effective and it caused many side effects;
• The serum must be administered by a doctor. Improper use of antivenom can harm the victim. There is a possibility of anaphylactic shock due to an allergic reaction to a foreign protein;
• The serum is administered subcutaneously in a dosage of 0.1 ml. If there is no allergic reaction at the injection site, another 0.25 ml of antidote is injected after 20 minutes. Then, after 15 minutes, the rest of the antidote is used. The doctor selects the required volume of administered serum based on the severity of symptoms;
• if poison intoxication is severe, the antidote is administered intravenously using a dropper.

Diagnosis of a viper bite

The hospital conducts a thorough diagnosis of the patient's condition. The necessary studies are prescribed:

• general blood analysis. Allows you to estimate the number of leukocytes, platelets, red blood cells, hemoglobin level;
• blood chemistry. Helps track the functioning of internal organs. The toxic effects of the venom can affect the functioning of the kidneys and liver. Liver parameters are assessed: bilirubin, ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), alkaline phosphatase, albumin; renal parameters: uric acid, creatinine, urea;
• Coagulogram is a test that helps evaluate blood clotting. The prothrombin index (PTI), fibrinogen, thrombosed time and other indicators are determined;
• general urine analysis. Helps track changes in the functioning of the urinary system;
• electrocardiogram. This test monitors abnormalities in the heart;
• chest x-ray. It is done if pulmonary edema is suspected.

Treatment prognosis and possible complications

If an adult is bitten by a viper, but first aid is provided correctly, the victim is quickly taken to the hospital, the prognosis is generally good.

When small children are bitten, the consequences are more severe and death can occur. Before arriving at the hospital, severe intoxication of the body may occur, which leads to liver or kidney failure. Therefore, it is important to get the child to the hospital as quickly as possible.

A pregnant woman has a high risk of intoxication not only of her own body, but also of the fetus. After a snake attack, you should undergo a thorough examination.

If a person refuses medical care after a snake bite, complications may develop:

• tetanus;
• lymphedema;
• phlebothrombosis.

There are bacteria in the viper's mouth, and after a bite there is a possibility of developing tetanus. It can also be caused by soil or dirty grass getting into the wound if hygiene rules are not followed. Symptoms of tetanus:

Tetanus is often fatal.

Lymphedema is a condition in which, due to infection, the outflow of fluid through the lymphatic vessels is disrupted, causing swelling of the soft tissues of the affected limb. Symptoms:

Conservative treatment of lymphedema does not always give a positive result, and there is often a need for surgical intervention.

Phlebothrombosis may occur in the bitten limb, which is characterized by the formation of blood clots in the veins. Symptoms:

Phlebothrombosis is treated surgically.

How to protect yourself from trouble

A viper bite can be avoided if you follow simple rules:

When stopping in the forest for the night, take steps to reduce the risk of a viper attack:

• create strong vibrations in the soil: stomp, jump. Snakes will leave such a place;
• close tents tightly. Press the edges of the tent to the ground with stones;
• do not leave clothes outside the tent;
• Be careful when moving through the forest at night. Snakes are also active at night.

A person is able to prevent a snake from attacking; the safety rules are simple and straightforward. If the incident has already occurred, do not panic: in a stressful situation we often take the wrong actions. Try to get medical help as quickly as possible and do not refuse it.

Poisoning by snake venom is not considered a rare occurrence. Quite often, snake bites happen in nature - for example, on a hike or during field work, so absolutely everyone should know the basics of clinical toxicology, rules of behavior for snake bites and symptoms.

There are quite a few species of snakes on earth, but humans most often suffer from bites of only three types of reptiles - vipers, colubrids and slates.

Types of poisonous snakes and characteristics of their bites

Family of already-like

The most common species are the common snake and the copperhead. The bites of these snakes do not pose a danger to human life, and they cannot radically affect one’s health. But the bite itself is accompanied by powerful painful sensations, and suppuration of the wound may develop.

Viper family

The most striking representative of this species is the common viper. This snake is peaceful, bites a person only in case of direct disturbance - for example, if a person grabs the viper with his hands and steps on it. In general, having seen a person, the common viper tries to crawl to the side, hide, or continues to lie quietly, watching the potential enemy.

The mortality rate after a bite from this type of poisonous snake is only 1% of the total mass. This low rate is due to the fact that the snake injects a small amount of poison into the human body; it saves it - creating and accumulating the next portion is too tiring for the reptile.

When bitten, the venom of a common viper can enter muscle tissue, under the skin, or into the lumen of a vessel. The last option is the most difficult - the spread of the poison is instantaneous, the symptoms are too severe.

Aspid family

A striking representative of this species is the Central Asian cobra. Often, a cobra first warns the enemy of an attack, and can even imitate a bite - it stands in a characteristic stance, widens its neck, emits a loud hiss and makes a sharp lunge towards the lower limbs of a person, hitting them with its head with its mouth closed.

The main component of the venom of the Central Asian cobra is a neurotoxin - it blocks the sensitivity of the skin, impairs the conduction of nerve impulses, and provokes the development of paralysis and paresis.

Symptoms of poisonous snake bites

It may happen that a person does not notice a snake bite, so you need to know the main symptoms of snake venom poisoning in order to be able to provide medical assistance.

Symptoms of a common viper bite:

If severe intoxication develops, the above symptoms will be accompanied by the following signs:

• severe weakness;
• clearly defined pallor of the skin;
• limbs become cold;
• confusion is noted;
• Fever and shortness of breath, loss of consciousness and kidney failure may develop.

Symptoms of a Central Asian cobra bite:

• there is a sharp, burning pain at the site of the bite, which subsides only after a few hours;
• the color of the skin at the site of the bite practically does not change;
• there is swelling in the area of ​​the wounds, but not as pronounced as with the bite of a common viper;
• bloody clear fluid may ooze from the wound;
• the functions of the affected limb are impaired, paralysis develops in the ascending direction;
• the facial muscles suffer - the eyelids and lower jaw involuntarily droop, the movement of the eyeballs is disrupted.

When bitten by a Central Asian cobra, symptoms of general intoxication quickly develop:

Note:If a person does not receive medical assistance after being bitten by a Central Asian cobra, then his death occurs within 2-7 hours from respiratory arrest.

What determines the severity of symptoms after a poisonous snake bite:

1. Age of the person bitten. The symptoms of snake venom poisoning are most intense in children and the elderly. The presence of internal diseases, the level of immunity and general health also play a role.
2. Type of snake, its size and age. It is believed that the common viper is less dangerous than the Central Asian cobra, although in any case the bite of these reptiles causes serious health problems. The bites of young snakes, small in size, are less dangerous.
3. Condition of the snake's teeth. If they are infected, then the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the wound will be a must - this aggravates the development of symptoms.
4. Bite site. The lower extremities are most often affected and symptoms will then develop slowly. But there are snake bites in the neck, face, and the location of large blood vessels - the symptoms will develop rapidly.
5. Human behavior after a bite. If the bitten person actively moves and runs, the snake venom will spread through the body faster - the intensity of the symptoms will be powerful.

First aid for a poisonous snake bite

So, everything has already happened - a man was bitten by a poisonous snake. What to do in this case, how to help the victim and prevent the development of severe complications?

Firstly, you need to put the bitten person in a horizontal position and try to calm him down - anxiety, hysteria and panic certainly will not help. If the snake is fixed on the skin at the site of the bite (this, by the way, happens often), it must be removed and destroyed, but not thrown away anywhere - the reptile may need to be examined by a specialist.

Secondly, if possible, you need to immediately call an ambulance, contact rescuers or a recreation center or hotel. While you are doing all these steps, carefully monitor the victim - the absence of burning, swelling and pain at the site of the bite most likely indicates that the snake is not poisonous.

Thirdly, the affected part should be freed from clothing and jewelry - they can put pressure on the bite site and provoke increased swelling.

note: if the symptoms indicate that the person was bitten by a poisonous snake, then medical assistance should be provided immediately, without waiting for the ambulance team to arrive!

Urgent Care:

1. If a poisonous snake has bitten a limb, then it must be immobilized - a bandage or splint made from improvised materials (board, branch) can be applied to the leg or arm.
2. It is advisable to suction the poison from the wound within a maximum of 10 minutes after the incident. If you have a rubber bulb with you, then we work with it; if not, we use our mouth. First, you need to squeeze the bite wounds between your fingers and knead them slightly - this will help to “open” them, then we clasp the bite site with our teeth and begin to actively suck out the poison, helping with our fingers (as if “squeezing”). We immediately spit out the poison with saliva; the duration of this procedure should not exceed 20 minutes - during this time you can remove 50% of the total amount of poison from the body.
3. We treat the bite site with a disinfectant - hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, brilliant green are suitable. Do not treat the wound with alcohol.
4. A bandage made of a bandage or any piece of clean cloth is applied to the wound. In no case should it be tight - this fact is checked by inserting a finger under the bandage (it should pass freely).
5. Cold is applied to the bite site - ice is the best option. If this type of cooling is used, then every 5-7 minutes you need to take a break in the procedure for 5 minutes - this will prevent frostbite of the tissues.
6. The victim is given antihistamines - Tavegil, Diphenhydramine, Loratadine. If possible, such drugs are administered intramuscularly.
7. The person bitten should drink plenty of fluids - up to 5 liters of water per day. This will help reduce the manifestations of intoxication in the body. It is necessary to give the patient vitamins K and C, and, if possible, put on a glucose drip (5% solution in an amount of 400 ml).
8. The victim is given glucocorticosteroid drugs (Prednisolone or Dexamethasone), which can be administered intramuscularly.
9. If a person is bitten by a Central Asian cobra, his breathing may be impaired. To alleviate his condition, you need to periodically apply a cotton swab moistened with ammonia to your nose.
10. If respiratory and heart failure rapidly develops, then the bitten person is given Caffeine, Ephedrine or Cordiamine.
11. In case of complete stoppage of breathing and heartbeat, the patient is given artificial respiration and chest compressions.

What not to do if bitten by a poisonous snake

The problem is that when people are bitten by a poisonous snake, they begin to take actions that can lead to the development of serious complications. You need to clearly remember what you should never do in this condition:

• cauterize the bite site;
• apply heat to the affected area;
• apply a tourniquet to the affected limb - this leads to rapid and deep spread of poison into the tissue;
• cut the bite site to drain the poison;
• drink any alcoholic beverages;
• cover the limb with ice for a long time;

Antidotes

Poisoning with snake venom involves the administration of specific serums (antidotes) - this is advisable to do in the first day after the bite. In the future, if necessary, you can administer another dose of serum.

Serum "Antigyurza"

If a person is bitten by a snake of the viper species, then he needs to be administered the type of antidote in question in the first hours after the defeat. This remedy will help prevent the development of anaphylactic shock. Moreover, it must be injected according to a certain scheme and only into the subscapular region subcutaneously:

• inject 0.1 ml of the product;
• after 15 minutes, another 0.25 ml is administered;
• if there are no signs of anaphylactic shock, then the patient is injected with all the remaining serum (it is available in ampoules of 500 IU).

If the degree of poisoning is mild, then the person is injected with a maximum of 1000 IU of serum, with a moderate degree - 2000 IU, with a severe degree - 3000 IU.

Serum "Atikobra"

This serum is administered for bites from snakes from the slate family and the Central Asian cobra. This antidote is administered in an amount of 300 ml with simultaneous intravenous infusion of Proserin solution and Atropine sulfate solution 0.5 mg every half hour.

Note:Treatment for a poisonous snake bite is carried out only in a medical institution under the supervision of medical workers. Prescriptions are made on a strictly individual basis, taking into account the general well-being of the victim, his age and the intensity of the symptoms of poisoning.

There are no specific preventive measures to prevent venomous snake bites. But there is a list of rules of conduct when meeting such reptiles:

The bite of a poisonous snake is unpleasant and even dangerous. But if you take measures to prevent the spread of poison in the body and correctly carry out first aid, then the consequences will not be terrible for human health and life.

Tsygankova Yana Aleksandrovna, medical observer, therapist of the highest qualification category

The bite of poisonous snakes is difficult to miss - after just a few minutes a person usually begins to experience quite severe pain. The symptoms of a viper bite differ little from the symptoms of the bites of other venomous snakes, but some differences still exist.

Viper snake bite – symptoms and signs

Symptoms of a viper bite in humans can vary and depend on the following 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 status of the person bitten. Old people and children usually tolerate the bite less well. 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. Damage to 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 contact with humans and almost never attack first. Because of this, most bites occur due to carelessness or inattention: in a situation where a person did not notice the snake and stepped on it in the tall grass, crushed the viper that had climbed into a backpack, or clothes folded on the ground. Symptoms after a viper bite primarily appear in the affected area:

• pricking sensation;
• reddish mark 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;
• the appearance of bruises;
• After a few hours, bruises and blisters with pus may appear.

In addition, signs of toxic poisoning appear:

• weak rapid pulse;
• dizziness and nausea;
• spasms;
• temperature increase;
• enlarged and painful lymph nodes;
• breathing disorder, .

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 a viper bite 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 shouldn't worry too much if your cow is bitten by a snake; most likely, the animal will make a full recovery within a couple of days. It may fall to 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 milk from a bitten animal should not be consumed, but should be milked several times a day.

All types of snakes are associated with fear in humans. There can be no positive emotions when you look at unblinking frozen eyes; from such a look only fear and goosebumps can appear.

A person’s fear of snakes is formed at the subconscious level. It's the feeling of fighting for your life. Not only children, but also adults are afraid of the bite of these reptiles. But is it really that scary?

So, about vipers. What species live here?

The viper belongs to the class of reptiles. Its habitat is huge - it includes some areas of Asia and part of Europe.

Reptiles lead a sedentary lifestyle, so they do not like to “travel.” They spend the winter in rodent burrows, or simply under stones, in small depressions. After wintering, the burrow is left in mid-spring.

They overwinter either alone or in a group. And with the arrival of spring, they crawl out onto the stones to bask and bask in the spring sun.

On the territory of our state there are 6 species of vipers - common, steppe, Nikolsky, Caucasian, copperhead (viper family) and Levantine viper (viper). The bites of the first 5 are not fatal, but the viper is fatally poisonous to humans.

In this article we will talk about the consequences of a bite for humans from only the first 4 of them: ordinary, steppe, Nikolsky and Caucasian. They are the most common of the viper family and it is important for us to be able to provide first aid in the event of an attack!

Favorite habitat of the common viper and Nikolsky– these are forests, swamps, as well as garden plots, or areas near water bodies, abandoned peat mines.

Ordinary

Nikolsky

The steppe viper, as the name suggests, lives in the steppes. Their color is gray, with a pronounced dark zigzag along the body. It lives in the steppes of Europe, especially in the western part - these are all regions of Kazakhstan, less often in Crimea, Moldova, Southern Ukraine, and Iran. A distinctive feature of the steppe viper is that for their habitat they choose the territory where other individuals from this family do not live. No deaths from the bite of the steppe viper have been recorded. But, there are many known cases where the steppe snake has bitten livestock.

Stepnaya

The Caucasian viper is common in Georgia and Abkhazia, partly in Turkey and the Krasnodar region. You can meet it in foothill forests and alpine meadows. It calmly coexists with humans, choosing gardens, vineyards and tea plantations for housing. The main difference from the steppe is the brighter color and the complete absence of small scales on the face.

How these reptiles reproduce and what they eat is of little interest to anyone; as a rule, everyone is interested in what the consequences of their bite may be, both in adults and children.

You should know that vipers are active from the beginning of spring, that is, after awakening, until mid-summer. They do not attack humans themselves, but as a rule, attack and bite the victim as a result of defense. Therefore, everyone who goes into the forest for a walk, a hike or to pick mushrooms, the likelihood that they will meet a viper there is quite high - especially in wetlands. Therefore, it is necessary to know not only about the consequences of a snake bite, but also what first aid should be provided to the victim.

Some people ask the question, can this snake bite in water? As a rule, the habitat of vipers is not water. In water, a person can encounter it only if it swims from one shore to another. It should be noted that snakes bite more often in water, but that’s another story.

They swim well and hold their breath underwater

What can be the consequences of a viper bite for an adult?

Although the viper is a peace-loving reptile, when going for a walk in the forest, you must be prepared for any situation. A meeting with her is always unexpected, and if you accidentally step on her, an attack will be inevitable. The poison that enters the human body as a result of a bite is hemolytic in nature.

First signs and symptoms after an attack:

• At the site of the bite, two red dots are clearly visible, which remain from the teeth. There are no bruises, as the blood clots quickly.
• After five minutes, the affected area turns red, a burning sensation and redness are felt, and swelling begins to appear.
• Dizziness and weakness are observed throughout the body of the bitten person.
• An allergic reaction may occur with swelling of the larynx and difficulty breathing.
• 10-20 minutes after the bite, the pressure drops, the heartbeat quickens, the skin becomes pale, some patients may experience nausea and vomiting, and an increase in temperature is observed. In some cases, even seizures are possible. As a rule, such complex symptoms lead to death - death.

It should be noted that as a result of a viper bite, body tissue cells can die.

What determines the degree of danger from a bite?

If we compare, for example, that after a viper bite, death is recorded in approximately 1% of those bitten, then the statistics of the consequences of bee and wasp stings are much sadder - the number of deaths is much higher. But with all this, when the words of the snake are uttered, it becomes somehow creepy.

So, the degree of danger depends on a number of factors, namely:

• Reptile size. The larger the viper, the longer it is, the more poison it contains, which, when bitten, enters the victim.
• Weight and height of the victim. That is, the larger the victim, the less harmful the injected poison is to him. For example, if a viper bites a child, dog or adult, the result of the poison will be different. In the first two cases, the poison will quickly begin to spread throughout the body with various negative consequences. In the third case, the same amount of poison for an adult will not have the same effect as for a child.
• The place where they were bitten. It is most dangerous if the bite occurs in the shoulder or neck area, less dangerous in the arm or leg. It should be noted that the location of the bite affects the consequences for the body.
• The health status of the injured person. If the person bitten has problems with the cardiovascular system, shock may occur, since after the bite there is an increased heart rate, as well as panic, which will contribute to the rapid spread of poison throughout the victim’s body.

First aid for an injured adult

Usually, after a viper bite, a person experiences shock and panic. Therefore, the first thing to do is pull yourself together - no hysteria or tears. What happened, happened, now first aid should be provided, preferably quickly and clearly, there is no time for emotions.

How to provide first aid. Advice from Dr. Komarovsky

1. The first thing to do is to make sure that there is no repeat bite. Sometimes it happens.
2. At the same time, call an ambulance if your mobile phone is at hand and there is a connection. There's not a minute to waste.
3. It is necessary to lay the victim down. He should not move; at the moment it is very important to prevent the poison from spreading throughout the body. The final result depends on how quickly and correctly first aid is provided, that is, whether the patient will be cured with minimal injuries.
4. If the bite was in the hand, you need to remove rings, bracelets and watches, if the victim has them.
5. Next, you should slightly open the wound (but do not cut or pick at it), and begin to suck out the poison, spitting it out. The person who carries out the sucking procedure must have a sufficient amount of saliva in his mouth; if it is not enough, it is recommended to take a little water into his mouth so that he can then spit out the poison with the water. The poison should be sucked out for 15-20 minutes. During this time, the person helping can suck out half of the injected poison from the body of the bitten person. A person who provides first aid may not be afraid to suck out the poison; if it is spit out, it will not enter the body. Even if there are wounds or microcracks in the oral cavity of the person providing assistance. The main condition is that there is saliva or water in the mouth.
6. The next stage is disinfection of the wound, if circumstances permit. If you have disinfectant medications, you can treat the wound with them, for example, regular iodine. Alcohol will also work for this. If you happen to have other alcoholic drinks with you in the forest, you can use them to treat the area around the wound. Then, it should be tied with a bandage or other soft (necessarily clean) cloth. Do not squeeze the soft tissue under any circumstances, as the hand or leg of the person who has been bitten will gradually swell. It is best to keep the arm or leg in a bent position.

It doesn’t matter where the bite occurred, in the city, in the country or on a hike, the victim must be given plenty of fluids - this can be water, tea or broth. Drinking a large volume of liquid will help to quickly remove poison from the body. But you should remember that you should not give coffee or other pathogens to the victim!

There will be no negative consequences as a result of a snake bite, only if the correct first aid was provided in a timely manner.

Symptoms after a viper bite in children

Alas, no matter how sad it is, children often climb everywhere, and the likelihood that they will stumble upon a snake is very high. It should be noted that children do not distinguish a snake from an ordinary viper, although there are adults who cannot distinguish them.

So, the child was bitten by a viper. What could be the consequences:

• shock - both in the child and in the adult who was nearby;
• marks from a viper bite - two red dots that hardly bleed, since the blood quickly coagulates under the influence of the poison;
• severe pain that the child will not tolerate;
• weakness throughout the body;
• redness of the bite site, and in some cases it becomes red-blue;
• swelling of the wound gradually appears, and the entire limb may swell;
• small bubbles may form;
• chills;
• sweating;
• a sharp increase in temperature;
• The child may experience dizziness;
• a decrease in blood pressure may be observed;
• coldness of the extremities may occur;
• If first aid is not quickly provided to the child, tissue necrosis may begin at the site of the bite;
• when bitten by a large individual, even loss of consciousness is possible;

Here is a list of possible symptoms after a viper bite. Next, we will describe what needs to be done as first aid.

First aid for an injured child

1. As with adults, the first thing to do is to make sure that there is no repeat bite.
2. Then, you should reassure the child and, if necessary, his mother.
3. Rinse the bite site and call an ambulance at the same time.
4. It is advisable to place the child on the ground and ask him not to move.
5. Before the ambulance arrives, you should suck out the poison from the wound (as written above).
6. Be sure to give plenty of water to drink if tea is available.
7. It is advisable to describe to the doctors the snake that bit the child so that they can guess whether it was a viper or not and prescribe the correct treatment.

What not to do after a viper bite

• you cannot bandage the affected limb with a tourniquet, as this will not be beneficial, but only harmful, due to damage to the soft tissues of the body;
• You cannot treat the bite site with vinegar if alcohol is not available;
• Do not under any circumstances drink alcoholic drinks or energy drinks, as they will contribute to the faster spread of poison throughout the body;
• Do not cut the skin at the site of the bite;

Antidote. Does it even exist?

Yes, it exists. Pharmacies sell drugs against viper bites, the most famous of them is “Anti-viper”, which is produced in Russia by NPO Microgen. 20-40 minutes after administration, this drug begins to remove snake venom from the victim’s body.

Before purchasing and using Anti-Viper serum, be sure to consult your doctor about your individual tolerance to this drug!

But even if the victim was given serum against snake venom, it is advisable that the patient be under the supervision of a doctor before and after (at least for some time), so to speak, just in case.

In addition to the antidote, you can additionally give a Suprastin or Diphenhydramine tablet in order to reduce the allergic reaction.

In very rare cases, with poor health or increased sensitivity to allergens, a viper bite for an adult is fatal. Therefore, it is necessary to provide first aid in a timely manner and, if possible, transport the victim to a hospital or medical center for examination by a doctor and further treatment!

In conclusion, I would like to say. Although there are not many poisonous snakes living in Russia, the likelihood of being bitten is quite high. Therefore, you should not only learn to recognize poisonous snakes, but also be able to not get confused and provide first aid to the victim.