First aid for snake bites

According to report in a section of the press, a twenty year old girl student Rida Fatima of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) Jamshoro was bitten by a snake while she was sleeping in her dorm room of LUMHS hostel on Monday night on June 25. However, despite administration of medical treatment, she died on Friday more than 72 hours after the snake bit her. After the snake bit her, she was not given any snake-bite first aid and was taken to different hospitals in Jamshoro, Hyderabad and Karachi which caused enough delay in her proper treatment. However, she finally died in Karachi, as the venom destroyed her anti-coagulation system, causing her to bleed profusely.
During the summer, especially in the rainy season, all kinds of insects and reptiles emerge from under the ground and try to take shelter in airy and dry places like thick wild growth, trees, flower pots, garden hedges and buildings where they also find insects to hunt and feed. Thus, incidents of snake bite can occur at any time. When a snake bites, its venom starts flowing in the blood vessels of the victim and, if not treated immediately, the victim can die. Therefore, it is necessary to know the first aid for snake bites so that some help can be administered on the spot before the victim is taken to the hospital as this may save his or her life. Here is the First Aid for snake-bites.
At first to ascertain that snake has bitten or not see if there are two small dots (Fang marks) or punctured holes on the skin of the victim and blood is oozing out slowly and area around these two holes has become reddish: checking this confirms whether it is a snake bite or not. In the case of a snake bite, have the victim lie down and tie a constricting bandage with a string, strap, shoestring or a bandage several inches above the bite. Tie it tight enough to constrict the blood flow in the surface vessels, but not too tight as it may shut off deep-lying vessels. If no doctor is available, sterilise a knife or a razor blade by holding into a flame for a minute and make an X-shaped incision across each fang mark. Use your mouth or a suction cup if available, to suck and spit the venom. Don’t be afraid of swallowing the poison as snake venom does not act through the digestive tract. Keep crushed ice wrapped in cloth over the bite for two hours. Get medical aid as soon after the bite as possible.
It is pertinent to note that the above first aid for snake bite is taught in the armed forces and has proved very effective in saving the lives of persons bitten by snakes. These methods can also be found in first aid books available in the local market.
SQN LDR (RETD) AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi