How to Treat a Cobra Bite

The cobra is a venomous snake. Its most recognizable physical characteristic is its hood. This is a 2 to 4 inch section of the neck which it can flatten out to make seem larger. In addition to its deadly bite, the spitting cobra can spray deadly venom into its victim's eyes. A cobra will only attack you if it has been threatened or provoked. Not all bites may be venomous; sometimes the snake will make blank strikes. Cobra bites are fatal in 10 percent of human cases. If you are with someone who has been bitten you must act quickly.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

How to Treat a Cobra Bite

1. Stay as calm as possible and reassure the victim. Panicking will increase the heart rate. This will move the venom round the system faster. Assure the victim that 90 percent of victims survive cobra bites. Within ten minutes after a venomous bite the victim will begin to feel pain around the bite, weakness, a numbing of limbs, nausea and vomiting; also fever may occur very quickly. Necrosis of the tissue occurs within forty eight hours. If fatal, death is caused by respiratory failure.

2. Don't waste time washing the wound, seeking treatment or giving the victim medication as you would with some snake bites. Time is crucial and you need to get some anti venom as quickly as possible.

3. Get to a hospital or call for anti venom. The venom can paralyze the victim's nervous system within two hours, sometimes faster. You need to get immediate assistance. Get the antiserum within a maximum of two hours if possible; after four hours the antiserum loses its effectiveness. After twenty four hours it is useless.

4. Delay the victim's reaction time by applying a tourniquet. Studies at U.S. Navel Medical Research Unit show that applying a tourniquet to the bite area significantly reduces the venom from spreading as rapidly throughout the body.

How to Make a Tourniquet

5. Take a stick that will not break and a bandanna or scarf.

6. Form a triangle with the bandanna and then tie it to the appropriate limb between the wound and the heart, but above the knee or elbow.

7. Tie the stick on top of the knot on the bandanna using an overhand knot

8. Twist the stick until it pulls the bandage tight and tie off to keep in place. Note the time the tourniquet was applied.

Tips & Warnings

• On the way to the hospital look for the following symptoms and tell the doctor if you notice them:
• Drooping eyelids
• Bleeding from the gums or any unusual bruising appearing.
• Increases in any swelling. Carry a pen and mark the limit of the swelling every 10 minutes or so
• Drowsiness
• Difficulty speaking
• Bleeding from the wound that does not seem to stop

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[ruf1950]

on 9/7/2009 Thanks for the tips. Cobras are numerous here in The Philippines! 5*****